A Mother's Love

by Katie Flynn

  Connor spoke hurriedly into the receiver. ‘Haven’t got much time before I’ve got to be back in class, but I thought I’d let you know that they’ve selected me to be a gunner on a heavy bomber.’

  ‘That’s fantastic news, coz. Any idea where you’ll be going?’

  ‘Probably Lincoln way,’ said Connor. ‘That’s what they reckon anyway, although it’s still too early to say, but as soon as I’m qualified I’m going to see if I can wangle things so I can end up in your crew.’

  Aidan laughed. ‘Nice idea, but you’ll be qualified before me, so you’ll probably be terrifying some other poor soul!’

  ‘Oi! Be nice to your favourite cousin.’ Connor chuckled. ‘Just think, the two Murray men, both in air force blue … the girls won’t stand a chance.’

  ‘I’d’ve thought a good-looking fellow like you would’ve been snapped up ages ago,’ said Aidan. ‘You telling me you’re still on the market?’

  ‘Too many girls and not enough time,’ said Connor. ‘Besides, I’m waiting till I get my AG’s wing. Might get myself a bit of a looker with that on my chest.’

  Aidan rolled his eyes. ‘I can see you’re going to get me into all sorts of trouble if we end up on the same bomber.’

  ‘I’ll try my best …’ Connor began, only to be interrupted by someone calling his name in the background. ‘Coming now,’ he yelled. ‘I’ve got to go, coz, but I’ll give you a bell in a week or so.’

  Aidan said goodbye then heard the click of Connor’s receiver. He shook his head, a broad grin spreading across his face. He’ll be like a dog with two tails if he gets to be a member of my aircrew, he thought cheerfully. God help us all.

  Gwen held up the mirror so Ellie could examine her reflection. It seemed unfair that whilst she thought she needed all the help she could get to look even remotely attractive, which as she understood it was the sole purpose of make-up, even the smallest amount of the stuff seemed to make her look far worse. The slightest dab of mascara made her lashes clump together, giving a thick, heavy feel which made her rub her eyes so that the end result looked as though she had tried to smear the stuff on. Lipstick was a no–no, unless it was the faintest whisper, so, as Ellie quite rightly said, it was hardly worth the bother. Gwen on the other hand looked remarkable with the faintest touch of mascara, which set her doe-like eyes off a treat. A dab of rouge to her cheeks and lips, along with her raven hair, resulted in a resemblance to Snow White.

  ‘Have you ever been to the circus, Gwen?’ said Ellie as she turned her head from side to side so that she might see her full reflection.

  Gwen shook her head. ‘Waste of money, my uncle reckons. Why?’

  Ellie screwed her lips up. ‘You must have seen what a clown looks like?’

  Gwen stopped holding the mirror up. ‘For the umpteenth time, you do not look like a clown, Ellie Lancton, so stop saying you do.’

  The girls were getting ready for their last night in Weybourne. The NAAFI was holding one of its many dances, and they intended to treat it as a sort of leaving party.

  Before joining the ATS Ellie had never danced a single step, but now, nearly three months in, she could hold her own, even when it came to the more difficult ones such as the foxtrot. Dances were always a good excuse to get off camp for a bit, the only drawback being that the girls still had to wear the khaki uniform, with the hated brogues, and the cap that hid any attempt at a hairstyle. It was all right for the likes of Evie, Ellie thought bitterly, whose waspish waist was accentuated by a belted uniform, but for those such as Ellie it meant sitting around whilst the men chose girls in pretty frocks, with high heels and loose hair.

  Now, she stood in front of her friend whilst Gwen straightened her cap and tie for her. ‘I must say, I won’t miss goin’ through the woods to get to the village. I never knew tree roots could be so treacherous, especially in the dark.’

  Gwen nodded. ‘Stubbing toes on upturned roots does not a happy dancer make.’ She and Ellie were looking forward to the evening. Tonight was not just their last night in Weybourne, it also heralded the end of their training, and everyone was in good humour, Everyone except Evie, that was.

  Shuffling up the queue for tea and biscuits in the NAAFI, Gwen nodded in Evie’s direction. ‘I reckon she was hopin’ to’ve got married and gone off to some cushy office job by now, I don’t think she ever intended to go to a real gun site. Probably explains why she’s got a bottom lip you could trip over, which reminds me – have you heard off that mate of yours, your bezzie, the one who was moved to Cornwall?’

  Ellie looked surprised. ‘You mean Arla? Whatever made you think of her?’

  ‘Didn’t Evie say summat about her wanting to marry an officer, so that she could get out of the courts? I just wondered if she’d had better luck than Evie.’

  Ellie shook her head hastily. ‘I hope you don’t think Arla’s like Evie, ’cos she’s not. She might dream about meeting and marrying an officer, but only in the way that most girls dream of marrying their Prince Charming. She wouldn’t go out of her way to bag one; she’s not like that.’

  ‘Sorry. I’ve obviously got hold of the wrong end of the stick. I should have known you wouldn’t be friends with anyone like Evie. But I think you should have told Evie about your Aidan’s gammy leg – that would have put her off.’

  ‘I never said his leg was gammy,’ Ellie said, clearly annoyed at the description.

  Gwen placed an apologetic hand on Ellie’s arm. ‘Sorry. I’m makin’ a right pig’s ear out of this, aren’t I? Let’s start again. Has Arla told you where she’s goin’ yet?’

  ‘Somewhere near Lincoln; she did tell me the name of the place but I’ve forgotten. It wouldn’t help even if I remembered’ cos I haven’t got a clue where Lincoln is, save that it’s miles away from Liverpool. Oh, I couldn’t believe it when I heard we were being posted back to Liverpool. It‘ll be like going home.’

  Her cheeks were still warm from Gwen’s comment. I shouldn’t have snapped at her, she thought guiltily. Especially because she’s right: Evie would find Aidan’s lameness off-putting. She turned apologetically to Gwen. ‘Sorry for snapping at you just now. I shouldn’t have done it.’

  ‘Don’t worry yourself, cariad. I think we’re all a bit nervy about leavin’ the safety of the trainin’ ground and strikin’ out for real. I know I wish we could have just one more week, I’d enjoy that.’

  Ellie giggled. ‘I don’t think you’re meant to enjoy yourself in the army.’

  It was much later on that evening when the two girls returned to their hut for the final time. Settling into her bed, Ellie cast an eye around the room. She would miss Weybourne. It had been the final stage in her transformation, not only from trainee to operator, but also from girl to woman. She had left Springdale Farm in order to make her way in the world and achieve independence, and she had done it. Tomorrow would be the start of her new life as Ellie Lancton, gun site operator, dependent only on the others in her section to fight off the enemy. She sighed happily as she brought the blankets up around her cheeks. Goodbye, little Ellie, she thought to herself. You’ve done a grand job.

  Chapter Seven

  Standing on the parade ground, Ellie was grateful for the peaked cap which prevented the bright sunlight from blinding her. It was their final day and they would soon be heading for Liverpool. Ellie breathed in happily, the scent of the morning dew mixed with fresh grass cuttings filling her lungs. She loved this time of day. None of the big army vehicles had started belching their smelly exhaust fumes and the only noise to be heard was the voice of their sergeant as he barked out his orders.

  Ellie found herself growing impatient as she waited for the sergeant to command the troops to fall out, and gazed across the yard to where D Section, including Evie and Tilly, were also standing at ease. It was just her luck, Ellie thought bitterly, that Sections B and D were to travel together to a gun site just outside the city. She had hoped that Evie would be moved to a different part of the country, and felt it was t
ypical of the army, who had chosen to split her and Arla up, to lumber her with Evie.

  Earlier that morning the two sections had gone to their final briefing. ‘You’ll be in Liverpool until the army see fit to move you elsewhere. As per your training, you will work, eat, sleep and live together, only this time when the alarm goes up, it will not be an exercise.’ The commanding officer strode up and down the lines of desks in the classroom. ‘I have confidence in every single one of you to carry out the job that you have been trained to do. So have faith in yourselves, and remember, you’ve been taught by the best in the land.’ He paused momentarily, eyeing them with an air of pride. ‘Good luck, everyone.’

  Now, standing on the tarmac, Ellie heard the sergeant command the troops to fall out. She trotted over to Gwen. ‘That’s it! We’re off to Liverpool!’ She breathed out happily. ‘I can’t wait to get going. It seems like we’ve spent an eternity training. It’s going to be good to get stuck in.’ She linked arms with Gwen. ‘You got everything ready for the off?’

  Gwen nodded. ‘Remind me to do summat about my locket when we go into the city, won’t you? When I packed it earlier the damned thing opened without my noticing and me mam’s photo fell on the floor. It was sheer luck that I saw it.’

  Ellie followed her into the hut that had been their home for the past four weeks, where their kitbags stood waiting for collection. ‘Will do,’ she said. Counting to three, she heaved the sausage-shaped bag on to her shoulders before promptly dropping it to the floor. ‘Blimey, how the fellers manage to carry these things on one shoulder I’ll never know.’ Leaning down, she picked the bag up, and cradled it between her arms. ‘Ready?’

  Gwen braced herself as she swung her own bag up on to her shoulder, then tottered precariously backwards into the bunk bed, which scraped noisily across the wooden floor. Chuckling, Ellie shook her head. ‘I reckon they should get us one of them golf trolleys like what old Mr Burgess used to talk about. It’d make life a lot easier.’

  ‘Ha! Since when’ve the army liked to make life easy for us? You’ll be suggestin’ proper mattresses next, and nice soft blankets instead of them awful itchy ones,’ Gwen said. She took a final glance around the empty hut. ‘Can’t see that we’ve left anything behind. Let’s go.’

  As they approached the waiting trucks, Gwen turned hopefully to Ellie. ‘Seeing as how we’re goin’ to be manning a real gun site, d’you reckon they really might give us proper mattresses and stuff? Perhaps they only use rubbish bedding for trainees. After all, how can they expect trained army personnel to get a good night’s sleep on those awful things?’

  Gunner Jones, who was responsible for driving the troops to their new destination, winked at Gwen. ‘You could allus come an’ snuggle up to me in my bed if you like. I’d make you forget all about—’ He made a sharp grunting noise as Gwen’s elbow connected with his ribs. ‘Crikey, them’s sharp elbows you got there! I were only ’avin’ a laugh, Miss Crotchety,’ he said, rubbing his ribs.

  Gwen scowled at him. ‘I am not crotchety, I just don’t like improper suggestions. Some girls might be that way inclined’ – she glanced meaningfully at Evie – ‘but I’m not one of them.’

  ‘When you’ve quite finished …’ Ellie puffed as she struggled to hold her kitbag up to Gunner Jones.

  He nodded absentmindedly. Grasping the bag in one hand, he swung it into the back with ease, muttering under his breath, ‘Last time I offer to keep someone warm of a night.’

  ‘Good,’ said Gwen, who had sharper hearing than most.

  When the last of the girls had climbed on board, Jonesy closed the tailgate then hopped into the driver’s seat. Hearing the engine roar into life, the girls started to chat excitedly about their new destination.

  ‘Lancton’s from Liverpool, so if you want to know what’s what and the best places to visit, she’s the one to ask,’ Gwen informed their fellow travellers.

  Evie frowned her annoyance. ‘Excuse me, but I’m from Liverpool too. Not originally, of course, but I’ve lived there a few years now, and if you want to know the better places to visit then I’m the one to come to.’ She glanced sidelong at Ellie. ‘Of course, if you’re only interested in the more common parts of the city then she’s your girl.’

  Sensing the atmosphere, Gwen broke the silence. ‘I’ve an idea. Why don’t we all have a girls’ night out? We could go dancing, or to the cinema, or … or …’ She looked encouragingly at Ellie. ‘What is there to do in Liverpool?’

  Ellie, grateful for the chance to prove herself, leaned forward. ‘Depends what you want, but Liverpool has it all, from Paddy’s Market, where you can buy everything from cheap clothing and furniture, to Blacklers, where you could break the bank just by lookin’ at all the beautiful, expensive jewellery. There are plenty of cinemas, theatres and dance halls as well as museums, cafés … You name it, we’ve got it, and of course being born in Liverpool I know all the best places to go.’

  Evie gave a snort of contempt. ‘As if the likes of you could afford to shop in places like Blacklers, and I bet you’ve never been to the theatre. You make it sound as though you lived the high life before you joined the ATS whereas we all know you came from the courts.’ She shook her head. ‘You seem to think you’re some kind of Cinderella who joined the ATS to find your Prince Charming, but you’re a bit old for fairy tales, I’m afraid.’

  ‘That’s a bit rich comin’ from you,’ Gwen retorted.

  ‘What do you mean by that? I didn’t grow up in the courts.’

  ‘Mebbe not, but you’re always on the hunt for a pot of gold with a man attached to it,’ said Gwen.

  One of the girls from deeper in the truck leaned forward. ‘C’mon, girls, let’s play nicely. I think Liverpool sounds great and I can’t wait to have a good look round.’

  Delilah Crompton, another girl from Ellie’s section, clapped her hands together eagerly. ‘I’m from Chester, which isn’t far from Liverpool. It’s easy to get to by train. I’ve been to Blacklers, and she’s right: it’s huge, and the stuff they’ve got in there is amazing. We’ve landed on our feet with this posting. I was worried we were goin’ to get sent to somewhere on the east coast to defend the airfields, stuck out in the middle of nowhere without a shop or a cinema in sight … I can’t believe we’re lucky enough to be going to Liverpool.’ She jiggled excitedly in her seat. ‘I’ll be able to go home and see my family.’

  The rest of the journey passed pleasantly as the girls planned a shopping trip to the market in Great Charlotte Street.

  ‘Posh shops are all very well,’ Delilah had informed a scowling Evie, ‘but we’re in the army. None of us have that kind of money.’ She had raised a single eyebrow. ‘Not even you, if I’m any judge.’

  Evie’s cheeks had flushed red, but instead of speaking out to the contrary she narrowed her eyes and looked out of the back of the truck.

  With Evie out of the conversation, Ellie continued. ‘You need a whole evening for the cinema. They always show plenty of adverts before the newsreel, and a short film before the main feature. Then there’s the cinema café; their fish and chips are legendary.’

  ‘You couldn’t afford an evening at the cinema,’ ‘Evie interjected,’ ‘let alone fish and chips, so how do you know what it’s like?’

  ‘If you know the right people you don’t have to pay to go in,’ Ellie began, but Evie interrupted once more.

  ‘You mean you snuck in round the back with the rest of the rats.’

  Ellie leaned forward in her seat. ‘Arla’s uncle works as a caretaker at the cinema, and he’d let us in for nowt as long as we agreed to help him tidy up afterwards. As an extra treat he’d take us for a chip supper, and sometimes, if there was any left over, the owner would chuck the fish in for free. So don’t go tryin’ to suggest that I don’t pay my way, Evie Maddox, ’cos I do.’

  Delilah shot Evie a withering glance. ‘Take no notice, Ellie. Some people are always out to spoil sport. My brother and his mates used to sneak in round the back
all the time. Lots of kids do.’

  ‘Sneaking in sounds fun, but I don’t think we’d get away with it, not in our uniforms,’ said one of the girls.

  Ellie smiled. Despite her attempts Evie hadn’t managed to spoil the atmosphere. When they pulled up outside the gate to their new barracks, the guard on duty smiled curiously at the happy troop, all laughter and wide smiles.

  ‘Blimey, where’ve you lot come from … the pub?’ he said as he closed the gate behind them.

  ‘Nope, but that’s where they’re going, as soon as they get some time off,’ Jonesy said as he made his way to the rear of the truck. ‘Think they’re coming to a holiday camp this lot do. You should’ve ’eard ’em on the way here. They’ve got big plans for the city, especially these two.’ He waved a finger in the direction of Gwen and Ellie. ‘You mark my words, you wanna keep a close eye on them. Don’t take no nonsense, and make sure they don’t come sneakin’ back in after time.’

  The guard chuckled. ‘They wouldn’t be the first, but I’ll tell you summat for nowt; the sergeant – ’is name’s Barton – is a stickler for the rules and he won’t take no messin’ about, norreven if your granny’s died – and you’re only allowed two of them, so think twice if you don’t want to end up doin’ fatigues for the whole time you’re here.’

  Jumping down from the back of the truck, Ellie laughed. ‘Don’t listen to Jonesy; he’s pullin’ your leg. But thanks for the heads-up on Barton. It’s always good to know what’s what when you reach a new camp. Talkin’ of which, where are we headed?’

  With a jerk of his head the guard indicated an approaching NCO. ‘That’s Corporal Caldecott, and if you think Barton’s bad, she’s worse.’

  He stopped talking as Jonesy nudged him sharply in the ribs. ‘Watch out …’

  The corporal drew to a halt in front of them. ‘Section, ’shun!’ she barked, her tone sharp.

  Several kitbags dropped to the floor as they stood to attention. The guard silently withdrew into his box, whilst Jonesy surreptitiously took his place back behind the wheel of the truck. Like rain falling on a blackboard, the corporal’s steely expression wiped the frivolity and mirth from the troops that stood before her. She was a slim woman, with dark hair all but hidden beneath her cap. Ellie looked hard at the corporal and was surprised to see a streak of silver hair amongst the black, peeking out from just below the crown of her cap. She examined the corporal’s face. The other woman could not have been more than her mid-twenties, yet there was something about her which made her seem far older. Her eyes travelled along the ranks in a critical fashion and Ellie glanced sidelong at the guard sitting in his box. He was eyeing them sympathetically.