by Joan Jonker
‘Yeah, he’ll probably be glad of a pint! D’yer want me to go an’ ask him?’
‘I’ll come with you.’ Jill stood up, pulling on Steve’s hand. She was frightened the time wasn’t far off when he’d be called up, and she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him. Time on their own, where he could hold her close and tell her how much he loved her. ‘We can go for a little walk after we’ve called at yours, get a bit of fresh air.’
‘I’ll come out with yer.’ Tommy stood up. ‘May as well go up to Ginger’s for an hour.’
‘Don’t be too late, son,’ Molly said. ‘The number of hours you’re working, yer need to get as much sleep as yer can.’
Tommy dropped a kiss on her forehead. ‘I’ll be back before me dad, don’t worry.’
Tommy was reaching for the brass knocker on his friend’s house when the wail of the air-raid siren filled the night. It was the first time the alarm had sounded at night and it gave Tommy a start, bringing his hand down to his side. His first thought was for his mother, but then he remembered his dad would still be at home and he’d see the family got to the shelter safely. They were probably getting Ruthie out of bed right this minute. But what about his nan and grandad? He knew they sought shelter every time the warning sounded, but up till now the alarms had been during the day – this was the first one they’d ever had at night. Tommy hesitated. Rosie was there, she’d see his grandparents were all right. But then their faces came into his mind, and fear for their safety had him moving quickly away from Ginger’s house. What if his grandad had another heart attack with the fright? Rosie couldn’t cope with that on her own.
Doors were opening and people were spilling out on to the street as Tommy quickly covered the ground. Eyes were turned towards the sky, looking for the sight and sound of enemy planes. If it hadn’t been for the news of the German raids on Holland and Belgium that same day, most of the folk wouldn’t have stirred from their beds or their fireplaces. But the war had been brought closer to home and a warning wasn’t to be ignored. So children, still half asleep, were being carried or pulled along in the direction of the underground shelter. Better to be safe than sorry.
Rosie opened the door to Tommy’s knock. ‘Oh, ’tis yerself.’ For once there was no smile of welcome, no lighting up of the deep blue eyes. ‘We’re almost ready, then we’re going up to the shelter.’
‘I just came to see if me nan and grandad are all right,’ Tommy said gruffly, following her down the hall. ‘Thought they might need a hand.’
Bridie was slipping her arms into her coat. ‘Hello, Tommy, sweetheart! Sure, what a performance this is! Twice in one day, no less.’
Bob greeted him with a smile. ‘That shelter is becoming like a second home. But we’re lucky, thank God, it’s only at the top of the road.’
‘We’d have been out by now,’ Bridie told him, ‘but we were undressed, ready for bed.’
Rosie was fussing over Bridie, making sure all the buttons on her coat were fastened. ‘I told you to go as you were, with yer coat over yer nightdress, but yer wouldn’t have it. No one would have taken a blind bit of notice of yer, but sure it’s a proud woman yer are, Auntie Bridget, and that’s the truth of it.’
Tommy could feel his irritation growing. Anyone would think it was her nan and grandad, and that this was her home! A little voice in his head told him he was being unreasonable, but he silenced it. Rosie O’Grady was a thorn in his flesh and always would be.
After making sure Bob’s scarf was folded across his chest and his coat collar was turned up, Rosie cast her eyes on Tommy. ‘Seein’ as ye’re a fine strong man, Tommy Bennett, yer can carry the bundle that’s at the bottom of the stairs. An’ yer can give an arm to Uncle Bob while I see to Auntie Bridget.’
Tommy opened his mouth to ask her just who she thought she was ordering around, but he closed it quickly. There was no point in upsetting his grandparents, not when they both looked so tired and frail.
The shelter was quite full, and it was Rosie who pushed her way to the far end in search of a space on one of the wooden benches built into the side walls for Bridie and Bob to sit. Tommy thought she was wasting her time because all the benches were occupied, but he’d reckoned without Rosie’s determination. ‘Can I ask yer if yer’d be kind enough to move along a bit, please. Sure, there’s enough room for another two people on there, so there is.’
There was some low grumbling and mumbling as people moved closer together, but with Rosie smiling down at them with a purposeful expression on her face, no one refused.
‘There yer are, Auntie Bridget, sit yerself down. Come on, Uncle Bob, there’s room enough for you.’ Rosie waited until they were settled, then turned to Tommy and held out her hand. ‘The bag, please?’
Tommy watched her plumping the cushions before putting them behind Bridie and Bob so they didn’t have to lean back on the cold concrete. And as she was tucking a blanket around their knees, he had to admit to a sneaking admiration for her. He’d never have had the nerve to make those people move, and never in a million years would he have thought of bringing blankets and cushions to keep them warm and comfortable. She was still a pain in the neck, and a bossy-boots into the bargain, but she did have some good points.
Rosie was kneeling down in front of Bob, rubbing one of his hands between her own. ‘Are yer feeling all right, Uncle Bob?’
‘I’m fine, lass, thank you. Just a bit tired, that’s all.’
As Bridie kept a watchful eye on her husband, she asked herself how she could follow the doctor’s orders and keep this stress from him. If it was in her power she would move heaven and earth for the man she adored, but she had no control over the blasted air-raid siren.
Tommy knelt down next to Rosie. ‘It won’t be long now, Grandad, yer’ll soon be tucked up nice and warm in bed.’
They heard Nellie’s voice before they saw her. ‘Here they are, girl! Your Tommy’s with them.’
Molly was yawning as she came towards them. ‘Some life this is, isn’t it?’ She eyed her parents anxiously. ‘I knew yer’d be here, ’cos I knocked on yer door as we were passing.’
‘Where’s Jack and the children?’ Bridie asked. ‘They’re all here, I hope?’
‘Yeah, they’re down by the entrance with Nellie’s gang. It was our Tommy I was worried about, but I see he’s safe and sound. I thought you were goin’ to Ginger’s, son?’
‘I was on me way there when the siren went, so I walked round to me nan’s to see if they needed a hand.’
‘Ay, Bridie, ye’re lucky to ’ave a seat, aren’t yer?’ Nellie grinned. ‘Or have yez been here since this afternoon?’
‘Rosie got them the seats.’ The words were out before Tommy could stop them. He blushed from the neck upwards. ‘She made all the people move up to make room for them.’
‘Good on yer, girl!’ Nellie’s tummy started to shake. ‘D’yer think yer can shift a whole bench, so I can sit down?’
‘Ah, ’tis a young bit of a thing yer are, Auntie Nellie,’ Rosie beamed. ‘Ye’re well able to stand.’
Tommy was still kneeling, and his face was on a level with hers when he turned. And it suddenly hit him between the eyes … she really was very pretty! He was both surprised and annoyed at the discovery. OK, so she was pretty! It was when she opened her mouth that she spoiled things!
It was ten past twelve when the all-clear went. They’d heard planes going over, but that was all. And as Jack said, they were probably our own planes.
Tommy took the blanket from Bob’s knees and folded it up. He passed it to Rosie to put in the bag before reaching for the cushion. It was then he noticed his grandad swaying as though he didn’t have enough energy to stand. ‘I’ll come back with yer an’ see to me grandad,’ he said. ‘An’ I’ll carry the bag.’
Molly had also noticed the drooping of her father’s shoulders and the lines etched on his face. ‘Shall I come with yer? Jack can see to Ruthie and put her back to bed.’
‘No, la
ss, we’ll be all right,’ Bridie said. ‘You’ve got to be up early to see to all the breakfasts, so you need a few hours’ sleep. There’s no rush for us, we can have an extra hour in bed.’
Tommy touched his mother’s arm. ‘I’ll see they’re all right, Mam. I won’t leave until they’re settled down.’
Molly’s eyes were tender as she smiled and touched his cheek. ‘Ye’re a good son, an’ I love the bones of yer.’ She kissed her mam and dad, then hugged Rosie. ‘I’ll get back and sort my lot out, but I’ll slip round in the mornin’ to see if yer need anything.’
Rosie took charge when Molly and Nellie had left. ‘Sit down for a few minutes until the crowds have gone. Sure, I’ll not be havin’ yer pushed and shoved, an’ that’s the top and bottom of it.’
When there were only a few stragglers left, they made their way out of the shelter into the fresh night air. ‘That’s good,’ Bob said, ‘I always feel as though I’m suffocating in that blasted concrete monstrosity.’
Tommy could hear his grandad’s laboured breathing and kept to a snail’s pace. ‘You two go on ahead, we’ll catch you up.’
Rosie, walking in front with Bridie, turned her head. ‘Sure there’s no need to rush, we’ll all walk together.’
As soon as they got in the house, Rosie took command. ‘Now off to bed, the pair of yer! Ye’re almost asleep on yer feet! By the time yer’ve undressed I’ll be up with a cup of cocoa and a hot-water bottle to warm yer feet on.’
Tommy knelt down to undo his grandad’s shoelaces. ‘She’s a right little bossy-boots, isn’t she?’
Bob slipped his shoes off and eased his feet into the carpet slippers Tommy had lifted from their place inside the fender. ‘I’m a lucky man, son, to have two beautiful women waiting on me. What more could any man ask for?’ He stood up and reached for his wife’s hand. ‘I think we’re both ready for bed. I can’t wait to get me head down.’
Tommy followed them out of the room and watched them climb the stairs. He felt sad when he saw Bob pulling himself up by the banister, as though mounting every step was an effort. He would have given him a hand, but he knew it would dent the old man’s pride. They were too old to have to put up with this, and if there’d been a German handy, Tommy would have willingly throttled him. ‘Goodnight and God bless, Nan and Grandad. Sleep tight and mind the fleas don’t bite!’
Rosie came up behind him. ‘Don’t go yet, Tommy, I want to have a word with yer. I’ll not keep yer long, the kettle’s been on the hob since we went out so it won’t take two shakes for the water to boil.’
Tommy sat in his grandad’s chair. He heard Rosie rattling around in the kitchen, then watched her hurry through with a steaming cup in each hand and a hot-water bottle under her arm. He wondered what she wanted to talk to him about, because they had no shared interests, nothing in common. Anyway, whatever it was she’d better make it snappy because he had to be up early for work.
He was still pondering when Rosie came back into the room. ‘They’re sitting up in bed having their drink, and then they’ll be fast asleep in no time.’
‘What d’yer want to talk to me about?’ Tommy asked. He was so embarrassed at being alone with her, his words were abrupt. ‘I haven’t got all night yer know, I’ve got to leave for work before half-seven.’
‘Hasn’t everyone got a job to go to?’ Rosie said with spirit. ‘Sure, is it always yerself yer think about, Tommy Bennett? Have yer no thoughts for anyone else?’
‘Look, I’m not sittin’ arguing with yer at this time of night. Whatever it is, spit it out.’
‘I’ve a good mind to tell yer to be on yer way, Tommy Bennett! Such a bad-tempered person yer are! If it weren’t for Auntie Bridget and Uncle Bob, I’d be showin’ yer the door, so I would.’
‘What have me nan and grandad got to do with it? There’s nothin’ wrong with them, is there?’
Rosie took a deep breath and sat in the chair facing him. ‘They’re altogether too old to be runnin’ up and down to the shelter, it’ll be the death of them, so it will. An’ I worry about them when I’m at work. Uncle Bob isn’t well enough to have all this upset.’
Tommy nodded. ‘I know, but what can we do about it? It isn’t safe for them to stay here in case we start havin’ proper raids.’
‘I was wondering how to go about getting them one of those shelters that yer have in the house. One of the girls I work with was tellin’ me her grandma has one. They’re like a table and yer can sit underneath them when there’s a raid on. Me friend said they’re very strong and as safe as houses.’
Tommy gazed around the room. ‘Me nan wouldn’t like her room upset, yer know how house-proud she is.’
‘If the Germans start dropping bombs, which is more important? A nice house, or a safe house?’ Rosie leaned forward, her brow furrowed. ‘Tommy, I know yer think I’m an eejit, without a brain in me head, but just for once can yer not be putting aside yer feelings for me and think about those two old people upstairs? I see more of them than you do, and I’m tellin’ yer that while Auntie Bridget is fit and well for her age, Uncle Bob certainly isn’t. If we could get them a shelter for here it would be a godsend, and it would put my mind at rest, so it would.’ She pushed a lock of hair from her eyes. ‘Would yer have a word with Auntie Molly for me? See if she can find out how to go about getting one?’
‘I’ll have a word with me mam in the mornin’ before I go to work, and ask her to make some inquiries.’ The idea of something that would keep his grandparents safe was taking hold in Tommy’s mind. And with it came the urgency to act quickly. It was no use waiting until the bombs started dropping, it would be too late then. ‘What do they call these shelters, d’yer know?’
‘I think me friend said they were Anderson shelters.’ Rosie stood up, rubbing her knuckles over eyes so tired she could barely keep them open. ‘Yer can go now, Tommy. I’ve shared me worry with yer and I feel easier in me mind. I’ve been goin’ to mention it to yer mam a few times, but didn’t want to worry her. But after what’s happened today, I couldn’t keep me fears to meself any longer.’
Tommy stood up, feeling awkward … all arms and legs. ‘I’ll tell me mam to start asking around tomorrow. If yer come to ours tomorrow night, she can let yer know how she got on.’
‘I might be round tomorrow night, and I might not,’ Rosie said. ‘It depends upon the lie of the land.’
Crimson with embarrassment, Tommy walked towards the door. ‘I’ll see yer, then, Rosie. Goodnight.’
Rosie made no move to show him out. ‘Goodnight, Tommy. Close the door quietly behind yer in case the old folk are asleep.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
Nellie was in a flap when she came down for her morning cup of tea. ‘I’ve only gone and ruined the blasted dinner, haven’t I, girl! I put the pan on a low light at seven o’clock and thought I’d leave it to cook slowly for a couple of hours.’ She pulled a chair from under the table and sat down heavily, much to the disgust of the chair which creaked in protest. ‘Then, like the silly sod I am, I forgot about the ruddy thing! At least I didn’t forget it, not when I was goin’ out. But I thought I’d only be gone five minutes, yer see. It was when I was out I forgot about it, an’ now the backside is burned out of the pan and the dinner’s ruined.’
‘Nellie, will yer calm down so I can keep up with yer?’ Molly put the teapot on its stand and covered it with the knitted cosy. ‘Yer put yer dinner on at seven, right?’
‘That’s right, girl! I know full well it was seven because George put the wireless on an’ they said the time.’ She wiped the back of her hand across her brow. ‘An’ them fellers on the wireless are never wrong, are they, girl?’
‘Nellie, before we go through the whole rigmarole properly, just tell me what the feller on the wireless has got to do with the backside bein’ burned out of your pan?’
Nellie’s eyes disappeared when she frowned. Picking at her bottom lip, she said, ‘I’m not blamin’ him for me pan bein’ burned! I never said tha
t, girl, I never said it was his fault.’
‘No, you never did!’ Molly spoke with infinite patience. ‘I just wondered where he came into it.’
‘Well, he was the one who said it was seven o’clock!’
Molly took the tea cosy off and stirred the tea with a spoon. The ration of tea they were allowed didn’t run to making a nice strong cup, so they had to leave it to brew for longer in the pot. She put the lid back on, laid the spoon in her saucer, then cast her eyes on Nellie. ‘If yer’ve burned yer dinner, it doesn’t really make much difference whether yer put it on the stove at seven, half-seven or eight o’clock! Right?’
‘All right, girl, there’s no need to get on yer high horse! It’s my flamin’ dinner that’s ruined, not yours!’
‘That’s the first bit of information I can understand! It can’t be my flamin’ dinner, ’cos I haven’t got it on yet!’ Molly couldn’t hold it in any longer and her shoulders began to shake with laughter. ‘Ooh, yer should see your face, Nellie, it’s a picture, it really is!’
‘I’m glad you can see the funny side of it, girl, ’cos I’m blowed if I can! Then again, it’s not your dinner that’s ruined, is it? My family will be comin’ home from work to fresh air sandwiches, an’ they won’t be very happy about that!’ Nellie had to direct her temper at something, so she pointed to the teapot. ‘That ruddy tea will be stiff by the time we get it. I’ll be takin’ me custom elsewhere if yer don’t buck yer ideas up, Mrs Bennett. I wouldn’t have to wait this long in Reece’s or the Kardomah.’
As Molly poured the tea, she said, ‘Without any larking about, sunshine, how did yer manage to burn yer dinner?’
‘Oh, it was quite easy, really! All I had to do was go out for an hour and forget about it!’ Nellie clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth. ‘Yer don’t half ask some daft questions, girl, honest! Anyone would think I’d done it on purpose!’
‘I might ask daft questions, but you do daft things! Fancy goin’ out and forgettin’ yer’d left the pan on!’ Molly handed a cup over. ‘Where were yer for an hour, anyway? Yer know ye’re not supposed to go anywhere without me.’
