by Katie Flynn
Evie’s aunt had been speaking out of the corner of her mouth, a cigarette clenched firmly between her lips. Tilly had watched in fascination, wondering when the woman’s ash would eventually fall on to her own beautifully scrubbed step.
Tilly had been intrigued by this tale of fancy living in a grand house with maids, and could not wait to meet their new neighbour. But their first encounter in the school playground had proved disappointing, and she realised that making friends with the newcomer was not going to be easy.
‘I don’t want to be your friend,’ said Evie to one of their classmates who had been admiring her patent leather shoes. ‘I don’t belong in a place like this. Besides, I won’t be here long. As soon as my father has sorted out that silly man’s mistake I’ll be back in Frodsham, far away from the likes of you.’
‘Sooner the better!’ snapped the girl. ‘Stuck up cow! Them shoes are no good for round ’ere anyway. They’ll be ruined before you can say knife.’ One by one the circle of children who lived on the Scottie had disbanded, leaving Tilly and Evie standing in the middle of an ever-decreasing circle until just the two of them were left.
Tilly had approached Evie shyly. ‘I ’eard your auntie sayin’ your dad was in the nick. Is that true?’
Evie scowled. ‘Don’t you go spreading rumours about my father. You haven’t the foggiest what you’re on about.’
Tilly stood scraping the dirt and gravel across the stones with the toe of her shoe. ‘It’s true, then?’
Evie’s face had softened. ‘Please don’t go telling the others. They’ll get it all wrong, or start making stuff up.’ She looked appealingly at Tilly. ‘He’s not a bad man. If anyone’s bad it’s the tax man.’
Tilly looked up from the pattern she had been making. ‘My dad ’ates the tax man, he reckons he’s a thievin’ git, same as the landlord.’ She considered for a moment. ‘He don’t like the scuffers neither.’
Evie smiled. ‘There you are then! That proves it. Even your dad knows my dad’s not a bad man, it’s the tax man, and all the others.’
It had been a strange way to bond, but from that moment on, Evie had considered Tilly to be her friend, and the two girls had gone everywhere together. Tilly enjoyed Evie’s company and found that the other girl treated her reasonably well, certainly better than she did everyone else. At first it had made Tilly feel special, but having Evie’s friendship came at a price. Tilly’s old friends had decreased in numbers since she had palled up with Evie.
Now, approaching the Nissen hut, Tilly wondered what it was exactly about Evie that had deserved her loyalty. It wasn’t pity, or empathy, although it had been at first, of course, as they both had fathers who disliked the tax man. But then the rumours had started and Tilly had heard a different story. The family had been sitting round the table when her father entered the kitchen; slamming the morning’s newspaper down on the table he had pointed an accusing finger at it. ‘That bloody Maddox feller, the one whose wife and kiddy live next door, gambled the company’s wages away. Diddled loads of hard workers out of their money he did! I ’ope they throw away the key.’
With housewives being the bloodline of all gossip it was not long before the news reached the local children, who had proved to be relentless in their taunting. Many of their parents worked for men just like Evie’s father, and they had not taken kindly to the news.
If it had been Tilly who was on the receiving end of the bullying she would have run away, but Evie had stood strong. She had refused to believe the accusations against her father, instead accusing the government, the newspapers and the children of lying. This had all happened some years previously, but even though the taunting had stopped some time back, Evie had relished the idea of joining the ATS and leaving Liverpool.
Tilly too had hoped that starting a new life would be like turning over a new leaf for Evie, but so far this had not proved to be the case. Instead, her friend acted as though she was on a quest to prove that she was better than everyone else, and Tilly had begun to suspect that until Evie admitted that her father had been in the wrong, she would be forever fighting those around her.
Now, Evie linked arms with her only ally. ‘It’s been a long day, and I’m shattered. That’s probably why I had a bit of a go at those two in the NAAFI. I’m sure things will seem a lot better after a good night’s sleep.’
Tilly gave Evie’s arm a squeeze. ‘I know you don’t mean to be mean, so let’s start afresh tomorrow, see how we go from there. Agreed?’
Evie half smiled, half smirked. She had known she would win her friend round in the end. ‘Agreed,’ she said, returning the squeeze.
Arla frowned. ‘When they said Cornwall I was hoping we’d be somewhere like Penzance on the south coast. I’ve never even heard of Bude!’
Archie gave her an admiring glance. ‘Fancy you knowing where Penzance is. Just goes to show, you may look—’
‘Don’t you dare say I look ignorant, Archie Byrnes, or I’ll give you a thick ear,’ Arla warned him.
‘Actually, I was going to say you may look as if you’re half asleep in class, but you obviously aren’t.’
She frowned her annoyance. ‘I don’t look half asleep … do I?’
‘When we were in school you used to stare out of the window a lot. At the time I thought you were daydreaming,’ Archie said reasonably. ‘You’re different here, though. You look as if you’re listening more, as if you’re interested in what he has to say.’
Arla raised a quizzical eyebrow. ‘Watch me a lot in class, do you?’
Much to her surprise, Archie blushed. In all the years Arla had known him he had never shown any sign of embarrassment no matter what she had thrown at him. He gave his fingernails a thorough examination, then shrugged. ‘Not really, just every now and then.’
Arla’s mouth twitched in amusement at his discomfort. ‘Still, I suppose watchin’ me is better than lookin’ at old Woody.’
Woody was the nickname of their new sergeant. ‘They call him Woody ’cos he stands like some bugger’s shoved a wooden rod up his ar—up his back. Walks like it too’ had been the cook’s explanation for the sergeant’s nickname. As the kitchen was the main hub of every household, so was the Naafi in every camp. It was the first port of call for most, where the kitchen staff would happily fill you in on any gossip going.
Archie chuckled. ‘Do you reckon he knows what people call him? He must’ve wondered why a few of us chuckled when he started to pace the room.’
Arla shrugged. ‘To be honest, I think he might be going a bit deaf too.’
‘What?’ said Archie, cupping a hand behind his ear.
‘I said, I thought he might be going a bit—’ Arla broke off and made a playful swipe towards him. ‘Very funny,’ she said, her mouth twitching as she tried to hide her amusement. ‘Anyway, as I was saying, I don’t think he could hear people laughing, which is probably just as well.’
This conversation had taken place as they walked along one of the footpaths which followed the coast. Reaching a bench, Archie gestured towards it. ‘Fancy a break?’
Arla nodded. ‘It’s a good view from here, but not what I was hoping for.’
He sat down beside her. ‘Why? What were you hoping to see?’
Blushing, Arla held up a warning finger. ‘Don’t you laugh if I’m wrong, but I thought we might be able to see France if we were a bit further south.’
He raised his brow in surprise. ‘Oh! I don’t know whether you can or not, but it’d be a strange thing if you could, wouldn’t it?’
She tilted her head inquisitively. ‘Why?’
‘Well, the thought of being able to see them but not help them, I s’pose,’ Archie said. ‘You know they’re all over there doing their bit for freedom, but you can’t actually join them.’
Arla shivered, and Archie removed his jacket and offered it to her. ‘You cold, chuck?’
She shook her head. ‘It were just a shiver runnin’ down my spine at the thought of what you said.’ She gav
e a grim little smile. ‘You’re right. I hadn’t thought of it like that.’
‘Blimey,’ Archie said, his brow shooting towards his hairline. ‘I never thought I’d hear you say that.’
‘What?’
‘That I’m right,’ he said with a chuckle.
She gave him a sidelong look from under her lashes. No matter how bad things were, Archie Byrnes could always make her laugh.
‘Do you like it? Being on a battery, I mean?’ she said.
‘Me mam prefers me to be on ack-acks, rather than the front line,’ he mused. ‘I’m happy to be wherever I can do most good, although being here has its advantages.’ He leaned his elbow against the back of the bench and rested his head on the palm of his hand to look at her.
Arla returned his gaze. Archie Byrnes was handsome in a cheeky-chappy kind of way. He had bright blue eyes, pronounced cheekbones and deep dimples; his hair was the colour of sand and whilst most of it was straight, the back of his hair formed into little curls above the nape of his neck. She smiled. ‘I think I’d agree with you.’
‘Ellie? Is that you? It’s me, Aidan.’
Ellie smiled. His voice was faint and had a tinny quality, but it was unmistakable, and just hearing him made her tummy flutter.
‘Course it’s me, you goose! How many Ellie Lanctons do you think there are in Weybourne?’ She giggled. ‘You are the Aidan Murray, aren’t you?’
‘Ha ha, very funny! I can see the ATS hasn’t changed you much. But tell me, how are you?’
‘I’m doing well. I miss Arla awfully, but I’ve made a good friend called Gwen. She’s from Wales, and she’s been teaching me how to speak Welsh, so it’s not just the ack-acks I’m learning about.’ She gave an excited squeal. ‘Saying that, we’ll have finished our training in a couple of weeks so it’ll be all systems go then. How’s your training going? Have you been up in a plane yet?’
Aidan chuckled. ‘You certainly sound as though you’re enjoying yourself. As for me, I’ve done my initial training, and now I’m in Scarborough; will be for the next five months, doing my flight training. I’ve not been up yet, but hopefully I will be soon, providing I pass the next stage, of course.’
‘Oh, you’ll pass, no problem. Probably come top of your group, too,’ she said with assurance.
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence; I hope you’re right. I’ve been chatting to Connor and he suggested we should try and get together if we can. What do you think? Have you any leave coming up?’
Ellie pulled a face. ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. Once we’re trained they’ll want us to experience a real site before they’ll consider giving us any leave. You?’
‘I wasn’t going to ask until I knew what everyone else could do first,’ Aidan admitted. ‘Let me know as soon as you can get something and we’ll try to meet up so that we can talk properly.’
Ellie frowned. ‘What’s wrong with talking like this?’
Aidan floundered for a moment or two before being interrupted by the operator telling him to replace the receiver so that the next person might take their turn.
‘I’ll have to go, Ellie, but it’s been good to talk. Take care and speak to you soon. T.t.f.n.’
‘T.t.f.n.’ Ellie managed before hearing the click on the other end of the line. Replacing the receiver, she went back to her hut where she found Gwen lying on her bed, reading one of the many women’s magazines that circulated the barracks. Seeing Ellie enter the room, she waved a greeting.
‘So? How was he? Is he in the air yet?’
Ellie took her shoes off and sat down heavily on the bed beneath Gwen’s. ‘No. He’s hoping to be soon, though.’ She heaved a sigh. ‘I’m pleased for him, I really am, but, well …’
‘You’re worried that the Nazis’ ack-acks will be doin’ the same to Aidan as we are to the Luftwaffe,’ Gwen said, her feet appearing over the edge of her bed.
Ellie nodded. ‘I want him to be happy, and he is; I just wish he could have been happy stayin’ on the farm. It’s not as if he had to join up.’
Gwen slid off her bed and sat beside Ellie. ‘We’re always being told we’re trained much better than their lot, so they’re not as good as us, and let’s face it, we’re not that great. From what you’ve told me he’s pretty savvy, so he’ll know to fly high until the last minute, but we’ll both keep our fingers crossed, just for good measure.’ She groaned. ‘Look out, here comes trouble.’
Evie and Tilly might not have been in the same section as Gwen and Ellie, but they did share the same barracks, and unfortunately for the girls their bunks were almost directly opposite their own. So now, when Evie sauntered casually across to join them, Ellie and Gwen exchanged wearied glances.
‘Did I hear you right a moment ago? Did you say you had a pal who was going to become a pilot?’
Ellie nodded. ‘What of it?’ she said, expecting the other girl to say something sarcastic in reply, and was surprised when Evie continued to speak in a friendly manner.
‘I think it’s fabulous that you know someone in the RAF. You must be awfully proud; I know I would be.’ She looked up from her fingernail inspection. ‘Know him well, do you?’
Ellie shrugged. ‘Relatively. I worked on his father’s farm …’ she began, but fell silent when she remembered whom she was talking to. ‘What’s it to you, and why?’
Evie’s eyes shone with interest. ‘A landowner? Is it a big farm? I had no idea you liked animals; in fact, I thought someone told me you lived in the courts.’ She shot an accusing glance in Tilly’s direction before adding hastily, ‘Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.’
‘I did use to live in the courts, but then I moved in with Aidan and—’
‘Moved in?’ Evie said. She sounded astonished. ‘How very … modern of you.’
Ellie scowled defensively. ‘Not like that! I lived with the family whilst I helped out on the farm.’
Gwen shook her head. ‘That just goes to show how your mind works, Evie Maddox. Not everyone would assume Ellie and Aidan were an item. In fact, they’re more like brother and sister, so you can keep your filthy thoughts to yourself.’
‘Oh, I am sorry,’ said Evie, but Ellie had seen the glint in the other girl’s eye and knew she had been delighted to hear that Ellie and Aidan were not courting. Evie tentatively patted Ellie’s arm in what she obviously perceived to be a friendly manner. ‘Tell you what, to show there’s no hard feelings, how about you introduce me to your pilot friend? I’ve always been fascinated by the RAF and love anything to do with flying. I could buy you both a drink to say sorry properly.’
‘Blimey, what would she want to go and do that to him for?’ Gwen choked in disbelief. ‘It’d be like feedin’ Christians to the lions.’
There was a shriek of laughter from across the room. ‘Shut your cakehole, Lizzie Tunstall,’ Evie snapped, her eyes narrowing as she addressed Gwen. ‘I know you think I’m a bit of a one when it comes to the fellers, but I can assure you you’ve got it all wrong. I just have a lot of male friends.’ She stamped her foot angrily as yet another shriek echoed across the hut. ‘Shut up, Lizzie.’ Standing up, she clicked her fingers impatiently towards Tilly, who handed her her wash kit. ‘Come on, Tilly, before I say summat I’ll regret.’
The door swung shut behind the two girls and the room fell silent, apart from the occasional muffled snort from Lizzie. Ellie turned wide eyes to Gwen. ‘How stupid does she think I am? As if I’d ever introduce her to anyone that I cared about!’
Gwen eyed Ellie inquisitively. ‘Do you think Aidan would be interested in her?’
Ellie shook her head. ‘Wouldn’t matter if he was. He spends most of the day covered in manure from tending the animals and he has an old leg injury which he’s a bit self-conscious about ’cos he walks a bit funny. Not her type at all. I can’t see her fallin’ for someone who looks like Worzel Gummidge with a limp, no matter how many stripes – or wings – they had, can you?’ Ellie felt a hot flush rush to her cheeks at the thought
of Evie fawning over Aidan.
Gwen shrugged. ‘I think Evie’d go after just about any feller if it meant she got a bit of attention, especially when she thinks he’s a pilot with a bit of land, so who knows? Mebbe a young feller what walks a bit funny isn’t out of the question. Is he handsome?’
Ellie gazed at the brass buttons on her uniform jacket as she sought an answer. ‘Not as handsome as his cousin Connor; he’s the real looker. There is some resemblance, but most of Aidan is hidden beneath his scraggy beard. He’s quite scruffy compared to Connor.’
Gwen smiled. ‘Doesn’t sound like her type at all, then. She likes ’em clean cut and well presented; she’s not bothered about much else as long as they look decent.’
Ellie felt a wave of relief wash over her. She knew it was silly to be concerned that Aidan and Evie might get together: they weren’t even in the same part of the country, let alone the same service, so the likelihood of their ever meeting was remote to say the least. Nevertheless, before she could stop it, a picture of Evie arm in arm with Aidan entered her mind. Evie was smiling, her eyes fixed on his mouth as she drew closer to him. Ellie shuddered, a sense of foreboding coming over her as she mentally compared herself to the other girl. Evie was very attractive, with sleek platinum curls that always looked pretty even on the windiest of days, or after a night’s sleep. She had bright blue eyes and an enchanting smile, and as for her figure … Ellie grimaced. When she and Arla had first tried their uniforms on she had admired Arla, whose cinched waist gave her an hourglass figure, but thought she herself resembled a runner bean in the green uniform. Evie was more like Arla, and Ellie found it hard to believe that Aidan, given the opportunity – and the full dazzling smile of a flirtatious Evie – would deny himself the chance to date someone so stunning. She looked across to Evie’s empty bunk. There was only one way of ensuring the two never got together and that was to make sure they never met in the first place.
