by Katie Flynn
Arla shrugged. ‘Well, we can’t do it here; someone might see us. Let’s go to the Corner Caff. We can share a bun and a glass of lemonade whilst you forge our documents.’
‘Why should I be the one to do it? You’re just as capable as me—’
‘It was your suggestion,’ Arla interrupted. ‘Besides, you’ve much better writing than me, so it only makes sense.’
‘You make it sound as if I’m some kind of forgery expert,’ Ellie said as the pair made their way to the café. ‘I thought you’d be more disappointed that we wouldn’t be joining the WAAF. You did say you thought the ATS uniform was horrible, and I agree with you that air force blue would suit your eyes much better, but from my point of view the green will go very nicely with my copper hair, don’t you think?’
‘I’m lucky. Blonde goes with anything.’ Arla smiled.
Ellie eyed her friend suspiciously. ‘That didn’t really answer my question, did it? You were dead set on joinin’ the WAAF, so how come you’re not throwin’ a hissy fit? What do you know that I don’t, Arla Winthorpe?’
Arla’s cheeks were tinged with pink. ‘Nothing. I just think we might know a few more folk in the ATS than we would in the WAAF. It’s probably more suited to girls like us.’
Ellie, who had known Arla since they were toddlers, was not buying this for a second. ‘Who do you know in the ATS, Arla? Connor’s in the RAF, but I don’t think we know anyone in the …’ She paused, and eyed her friend shrewdly. ‘Which of the services has Archie Byrnes joined? I seem to remember Connor mentioned he was applying to the army.’
Arla avoided meeting Ellie’s gaze. ‘I’m really not sure. I think he said it was the army, but who knows with that one? I’d be surprised if they took him; he’s too short and skinny, if you ask me.’
Ellie pushed open the door to the café. She knew that Arla had set her sights far higher than a boy who lived in the courts, yet there was something about her attitude towards the ATS that did not feel right. She had been far too easily swayed. A familiar image of Arla and Archie formed in her mind. They were standing toe to toe, a furious-looking Arla shouting at Archie whilst he grinned infuriatingly back at her. Ellie chuckled. Whatever the reason for Arla’s change of heart, it could have nothing to do with Archie.
Sitting down at a table far from the window and the prying eyes of passers-by, Ellie swung her satchel on to her lap and rummaged around until she found a small pencil. She smoothed out her papers and slowly and carefully, her tongue licking her upper lip as she concentrated on the task in hand, turned the four on her birth date to a two. Sitting back to admire her efforts, she turned the paper round so that Arla might inspect her handiwork.
Arla nodded her head approvingly. ‘’Ere, that’s not bad, not bad at all.’ She pulled her own papers from out of her pocket. ‘Now do mine.’
Ellie frowned doubtfully. ‘Can’t you do yours? Changing a five to a three should be much easier than a four to a two.’
‘But I’m useless at things like this,’ Arla said pleadingly. ‘Besides, you’ve had a bit of practice doin’ yours, so it only makes sense.’
Sighing, Ellie pulled the paper towards her and had begun to change Arla’s date of birth when a voice behind them caused her to jump.
‘Guess I weren’t the only little girl to apply for the ATS today, then.’
Turning, they saw the girl who had been turned away before them by the sergeant in the town hall.
Arla’s cheeks flushed pink and her mouth hung open as she tried to think of a suitably damning retort, but Tilly continued, ‘Relax; you’re not the only one who’s gorra pencil, y’know.’
She handed her paper to Ellie, who smiled. ‘Pretty good effort. I see you’re the same as me, and were born in 1924 or should I say 1922?’
Arla, who did not like the manner in which Tilly’s companion had addressed them, did not wish to strike up a friendship. ‘Well, you mustn’t let us keep you …’
Tilly ignored her. ‘Why don’t we all go back together? We can wait till that fat old sergeant is out of the way and when the next feller comes along we can say we’re pals, and stick up for each other if he starts a fuss over our papers.’
Ellie nodded, but Arla nudged her foot sharply under the table. ‘Well, me and Ellie are pals. Why don’t you go back with that mate of yours, ’cos we don’t need anyone else.’
Tilly raised her brows at Ellie. ‘She’s gone, hasn’t she, ’cos she got in. They say there’s strength in numbers, so I reckon the more of us who stick together the better. What do you reckon … sorry, what’s your name?’
‘Ellie,’ Ellie said, holding out a hand. ‘And if we’re goin’ to be pals it’s best if we get to know a bit about each other first, so this is Arla …’
‘Hello,’ Arla said sulkily. ‘Although I still don’t see why …’
After shaking Ellie’s hand, Tilly extended her own to Arla. ‘Look, I’m sorry if I were a bit of a cow earlier, only I were nervous about gerrin’ in. I knew you had to be eighteen to be on the ack-acks, but someone told me they never really look at your papers so I thought I could bluff my way through. Can we call it pax?’
Conceding defeat, Arla shook the proffered hand. ‘Looks like you two’ve already made up your minds, so I s’pose I’d best foller suit.’
Grinning, Tilly pulled up a chair. ‘How long d’you reckon it’ll be before that sergeant beggars off for his break?’
Ellie shrugged. ‘Probably best if we try in about an hour or so. That way we’ll have time to get our stories straight. Agreed?’
Arla and Tilly nodded, and the girls spent the next hour sharing a cheese and pickle sandwich as well as a pot of tea. When it came time to leave, they all knew a lot more about each other.
The long queue that had stretched around the town hall had dissipated. Tilly peered round the door. ‘He’s gone,’ she hissed. ‘There’s a young lad there now.’ She beckoned for the other two to follow her lead as she strode towards the table. ‘Afternoon,’ she said, placing her papers on the desk in front of the corporal.
He picked them up and glanced at them, then looked at Ellie and Arla, who were standing on either side of Tilly. ‘Comin’ in threes now, are ya?’ he said, laying Tilly’s papers down and holding his hands out for Ellie’s and Arla’s. They dutifully handed them over and Ellie, who had seen the frightened expression on Arla’s face, feared the corporal might notice it too. If he does, she thought anxiously, our goose will be well and truly cooked.
One by one, the young man behind the desk glanced disinterestedly at the documents in front of him, copied the details into a book, and handed them back. The girls exchanged furtive glances. Why isn’t he telling us we’ve been accepted? thought Ellie. Perhaps he’s spotted our changes and is going to report us.
After a moment, the corporal looked up at the girls, a confused expression on his face. ‘Well? What are you waitin’ for?’
Swallowing hard, Ellie spoke first. ‘What happens now?’
‘You go home and wait for your papers. What did you expect? A fanfare and a gold medal?’
Turning as one, the three girls were heading for the door at a brisk pace when a voice called out from behind them, causing them to freeze on the spot. ‘Don’t forget your fathers’ll have to sign permission.’
Outside the hall, Ellie, Arla and Tilly started to giggle.
‘I thought we’d had it when he called out,’ Arla jabbered excitedly. ‘I thought he were gonna say there’d been a mistake.’
‘Me too. And after all that worry over whether they’d notice we’d changed our birth dates, he never even looked. Pity he wasn’t on duty earlier on, then we wouldn’t have had to go through all this bother,’ said Tilly.
But Ellie was more concerned with his last statement. ‘I haven’t got a father to sign my papers. D’you think I should’ve told him?’
Arla shook her head vehemently. ‘No. Besides, how will he know who’s signed your papers? It could be anyone.’
&n
bsp; ‘Oh, yeah.’ Ellie chuckled. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. Heck, I wouldn’t know me dad even if I fell over him.’
Looking confused, Tilly raised her brows, but Arla shook her head. ‘Too long a story. Save it for another time.’ A thought struck her. ‘How old was your pal, the one who got in?’
‘Evelyn? Same as us, sixteen, but all she has to do is bat those long lashes of hers at the fellers an’ they’re putty in her hand. I reckon that’s why he let her in.’
Arla pulled a face. ‘Typical!’ She glanced at Ellie. ‘We’d best be off, tell me mam what’s happened an’ that, but it’d be grand if we all went to the same training camp.’
Tilly chuckled. ‘Fingers crossed. Although you might not say that once you get to know Evie.’
‘Sounds ominous. Why do you say that?’ Arla said inquisitively.
‘Let’s just say she finds making new friends rather difficult. People often take her the wrong way, and I can understand why.’ She sighed resignedly. ‘When I was rude to you earlier on it was because I was nervous, but Evie’s like that all the time. It’s not because she’s a wrong ’un, it’s just …’ She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Like your dad, Ellie, it’d take too long to explain now, so best keep it for another day. Besides, I’d best be going too. Let’s hope we’ll meet again in a week or so.’
The girls waved goodbye as Tilly ran for her bus. ‘What do you make of that? She doesn’t sound very keen on her own pal, does she?’ said Arla.
Ellie chewed her lip thoughtfully. ‘On the other hand, she didn’t exactly stick up for us when her pal was being rude in the recruitment office, so maybe she’s used to it.’
Arla put an arm round Ellie’s shoulders. ‘I dunno; I reckon that Evie’s one to watch. But never mind them – this time next week we could be rubbin’ shoulders with officers.’ She sighed happily. ‘One of them might be my future hubby.’
Ellie chuckled. ‘I see you’ve still got your priorities straight.’
‘Ooo, I’d never let me priorities slip. Morals maybe, even me principles, but never me priorities,’ said Arla with a wink.
Ellie, clad in thick navy blue trousers and a dark duffel coat, cautiously poked her head round the corner of Lavender Court. The familiar foul smell of stale air mixed with the odour of the privies wafted unpleasantly into her nostrils. Pinching her nose, she lowered her head and made straight for Number 6, home to Mrs Burgess and her daughter, and knocked perfunctorily on the door.
After a moment there came the sound of approaching footsteps, the door opened an inch and a suspicious eye appeared in the gap. ‘Ellie!’ Mrs Burgess exclaimed, before opening the door further and ushering her guest inside. The old woman admired Ellie with an approving eye. ‘You’re lookin’ good, chuck, but what on earth are you doin’ back ’ere? You know Sid’s tellin’ everyone that you robbed him of his rent and belted him over the noggin with a rare china vase …’ She snorted contemptuously. ‘Not that anyone’d believe that, o’ course: you’d never steal nowt off no one, and the only rare thing Sid’s got is that skin complaint of his.’
Ellie giggled. ‘Mrs B, you’re a tonic, and I’ve missed you; that’s why I thought I’d come and pay you a visit. I may hate Sid, but I’m not frightened of him, and no matter what I still consider Lavender Court to be my home. Even if I never live here again, it’s where I grew up, all me memories of me mam are here, and I’ll always care for the folk that live here, so I thought I’d pop by and see how everyone was doin’.’
‘Just like your mam, allus thinkin’ of others.’ Mrs Burgess gave Ellie a gappy grin. ‘Come and sit down. I’ll put the kettle on and you can tell me where you’ve been all this time. I must admit, there’s been all sorts of rumours flying about and people’ve been real worried about you. We all know Sid can be a vicious bugger at times, and word was goin’ round that he might have killed you, only I didn’t believe it, ’cos if he had, he wouldn’t still be fumin’ and shoutin’ the odds about you leavin’ the way you did; he’d be keepin’ shtum instead.’ She tapped the side of her nose knowingly. ‘Besides, I’ve a pal or two live near the Winthorpes, and word ’as it you’ve been doin’ a bit of farmin’.’
Ellie nodded eagerly, and began to tell the older woman all about her stay at Springdale Farm and the animals she had helped look after. Several questions and two cups of tea later, Ellie finished with how she and Arla had joined the ATS.
Mrs Burgess looked impressed. ‘Our Ellie, milkin’ a cow,’ she breathed, ‘and joinin’ the ATS too.’
Ellie smiled. ‘We’re waitin’ for our papers, so I’m stayin’ with Arla till they arrive, although I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention it to anyone, just in case he comes round and starts giving the Winthorpes grief.’
Mrs Burgess nodded solemnly. ‘I’ll not say a word. You know you can trust me, Ellie.’ Leaning across the table she clasped Ellie’s hands in her own, and Ellie could see tears brimming in her bright blue eyes. ‘I’m that proud of you, Ellie Lancton, and I know your mam would be too. If you ask me I reckon she’s your guardian angel, makin’ sure you come to no harm. She were allus a good ’un, your mam was; she was the only woman in these ’ere courts what ever stood up to Sid Crowther. She wouldn’t tek none of his nonsense, so it were no surprise when you told him where to get off.’ She looked up at Ellie from beneath thin lashes. ‘I know it’s none of my beeswax, and you can tell me to mind me own business if you like, I won’t take offence, but …’ she licked her lips nervously before continuing, ‘he didn’t try and mek you do summat you didn’t want to? I only ask because you wouldn’t be the first one he’d tried to force himself on.’
Ellie stared blankly at Mrs Burgess, her cheeks reddening with anger. ‘Who else did he try to do this to, and why didn’t you tell me before?’
Mrs Burgess wrung her hands. ‘I couldn’t say owt because I didn’t know for sure, else I’d have warned you. It were only when she ’eard about you ’ittin’ him with the ewer and runnin’ off that she told me all about it, asked me to make sure he hadn’t touched you, but she said I mustn’t tell no one else. She reckons it’s too late to do anything about it ’cos it happened too long ago. I’m that ashamed, Ellie. Deep down I knew what he’d done at the time, and I did ask, only when she denied it I left it alone, and I shouldn’t have. I should’ve dug deeper, got the truth.’
The tears trickled down Ellie’s cheeks as she clutched the older woman’s hands in her own. ‘Not your Irene …?’ Mrs Burgess hung her head and gave a feeble nod. Releasing her hands, Ellie cradled the older woman in her arms. ‘Oh, Mrs B, I had no idea. If I’d known …’
Raising her head, the older woman smiled weakly at her. ‘There’s nowt you could’ve done, queen. I’m just glad he didn’t force you too … he didn’t, did he?’
Ellie shook her head reassuringly. ‘No he didn’t, but he did try, only I hit him hard, and the ewer smashed on his head, and that’s how I got out. At the time I were frightened I’d killed him, but knowin’ what I know now …’
Mrs Burgess smiled. ‘You’ve got the same fightin’ spirit as your mam. I wish our Irene had come to me, but she were frightened he’d evict us … so she let him …’
Ellie frowned. ‘Why are you still here? How can you stand …’
Mrs Burgess shrugged. ‘Where am I meant to go? What with all the bombin’ there’s even less ’ouses round than there used to be. Besides, I couldn’t afford anythin’ bigger’n this. I would’ve gone to the scuffers only Irene told me not to. She said they’d say it weren’t rape ’cos she gave consent.’
Ellie shook her head in disbelief. ‘No she didn’t; she gave in. There’s a difference.’
The older woman held up a pacifying hand. ‘I know that, and so do you, but the scuffers? They don’t believe it when a woman walks in with two black eyes half the time.’ She looked hopefully at Ellie. ‘But after what you did? I bet that old git’ll think twice before attackin’ another gal, not after you clouted him over the ’ead with the ewe
r, an’ serve the bastard right. I bet that’s why he didn’t chase after you, ain’t it?’
Ellie raised her brows. ‘He’d have had a job. It knocked him out cold. That’s why I went to the Winthorpes’.’
Mrs Burgess nodded approvingly. ‘Yes, and then you went to Connor Murray an’ he took you to this Aidan of yours.’ She smiled knowingly at Ellie. ‘I take it you two are together?’
Ellie shook her head in astonishment. ‘Gosh no, he’s not interested in someone like me. He’s applying for the RAF.’
The older woman looked surprised. ‘Don’t see what that’s got to do with anything. If he’s as smart as you seem to reckon, he’ll know a good thing when he sees it.’ She eyed her guest shrewdly. ‘You wish he were yours, am I right?’
Ellie sat, her mouth gaping, whilst she tried to find any answer other than ‘Of course I wish he was mine’, but none came to mind. Instead she changed the subject. ‘Did I tell you I was going to be on a gun site?’
Mrs Burgess laughed. ‘Yes you did, dear, and now you’ve answered my question, I will tell you this. Don’t waste time not mekkin’ your feelin’s plain, not in a time of war, ’cos you never know what’s round the corner. Mark my words, Ellie Lancton, tell this feller how you feel, before some other woman comes along and takes him for her own.’
Ellie smiled. ‘You don’t understand, Mrs B, he’s not interested in me. I’m five years younger than him. Besides, I’ve got more things on my mind at the moment than chasin’ after a man who sees me as a little sister.’ She got to her feet. ‘It’s been lovely seein’ you again, and do pass my best on to everyone else, won’t you?’ She paused, then added, ‘And tell Irene I’m askin’ after her. What’s she doing now?’
‘She’s joined Auxiliary Nurses, and she’s doin’ a grand job. When the war’s over, she’s hopin’ to have enough money behind her to get us somewhere better to live than this dump.’ She cast her eyes around the soot-blackened room. ‘Just like you, I shan’t miss this hovel, but I will miss the people what live here.’ She patted Ellie’s hand. ‘God only knows I miss your mam. She had a tough time when your dad up and left, but she rallied and carried on as if nowt had happened. She were a rock your mam was, and she loved you more than anything else in this world. That’s why she wouldn’t … do what he wanted and leave with ’im.’
