by Carol Rivers
Daisy hoped that Pops was listening at this very moment. Perhaps Matt was too, although it was more likely he would be on standby duty. There had been no letters from either one, though Mother thought this was to be expected since postal services were disrupted.
“Remember this,” comforted the King in his gentle voice, “if war brings separation, it brings unity also … good comrades … good neighbours.”
And everyone looked at Mr and Mrs Webber who had proved to be the very best of friends and neighbours. Uncle Leo raised his glass to their hosts and Mrs Webber’s pink cheeks grew even redder with embarrassment. Mr Webber gave a dismissive shrug and returned his concentration to his smoking.
“I have seen a good spirit of fellowship spring up in adversity,” the King continued. “We shall need this spirit in our own lives … and think about others …”
Daisy glanced at Bobby, trying to disguise her deep feeling of affection for the very best brother a girl could have. Will was - well, he was just Will, and she loved him too. She loved everyone in this room; her family and friends like Mr and Mrs Webber. There were others she thought of like poor Tommy and Sally and Grace and all her friends who lived on the island and Mr Cox and Nurse Gwen whose kindness she would never forget.
There was another name too. That name was Sammy. The boy who had saved her life on the roof of the hospital. Sammy Berger was the person she thought of now, Sammy and his father, wherever they might be.
The King took a long, painful pause and the radio crackled noisily but his last words were clearly audible.
“Our future will be hard but our feet will be planted on the path of victory. With the help of God we can win this war … and make our way … to justice and to peace.”
The anthem boomed out, everyone scrambled to their feet and stood to attention. It wasn’t as if, Daisy thought, the King had intentionally walked into this room with his mild-mannered voice and aura of deep comfort. But somehow he had, and she knew every other household in the country must think the same.
‘Pat, let’s have a round of fortune cards,’ Mrs Webber suggested later that afternoon as they sat by the parlour fire. ‘I want to know if the calving goes well this year.’
Mr Webber coughed politely. ‘Time for a walk, Leo,’ he mumbled. ’Let’s stretch our legs before the next round of milking. Boys, do you want to join us?’
Eager to be away, they all shambled out. Grandma chuckled. ‘Men don’t approve of this sort of thing.’
Aunt Pat nodded. ‘I’m not sure the cards are right for Christmas Day.’
‘Oh, go on, Pat,’ urged Aunt Minnie with a giggle. ‘Let’s have a bit of fun. No one takes them seriously, anyway.’
‘What do you think, Betty?’ asked Aunt Pat hesitantly, though Daisy saw she was already searching her handbag.
Aunt Betty smiled ruefully. ‘Just as long as you forecast something nice, Pat.’
Very soon the pretty cards, with their colourful symbols, were dealt. Grandma’s were read first, with a predictable interpretation. ‘A different address,’ said Aunt Pat immediately.
Grandma waved her hand. ‘No surprise at all. I don’t need the fortune cards to tell me that!’
Mrs Webber showed her hand. ‘Oh, what do these mean, Pat? A beautiful sunset over the fields and one with a crescent moon showing?’
Daisy held her breath as Aunt Pat studied them carefully. ‘I can tell you there’s an opportunity in the offing.’
‘Oh good!’ Mrs Webber cried. ‘I hope it’s that holiday we promised ourselves. We haven’t taken one in years.’
Daisy watched as Aunt Pat frowned at Aunt Betty’s cards. ‘You are going to have a visitor, Betty, who I’m afraid, won’t be welcome.’
‘Oh,’ said Aunt Betty disappointedly, her face very pale.
‘I can’t change it,’ sighed Aunt Pat. ‘One card is showing a black sheep - an unwelcome caller - it’s as plain as the nose on my face. And I don’t mind admitting that I’ve always considered my nose to be my best feature.’ Somewhat embarrassed, Aunt Pat turned her attention to Mother. ‘Now your card, Flo.’
Aunt Pat considered the hand that Mother had been dealt. ‘This lovely card - the Lily, is the symbol of innocence and purity.’
Everyone gathered round. ‘But what does it mean?’ Aunt Minnie asked curiously.
Aunt Pat smiled. ‘New life is is in your aura.’
The room was silent until Mother broke the spell. ‘I haven’t a clue,’ she decided.
‘You’ll find out,’ replied Aunt Pat mysteriously.
Daisy turned her cards over slowly. ‘What about mine?’
‘This is the symbol of responsibility and protection,’ announced Aunt Pat pointing to the card bearing an angel. ‘Your celestial being is carrying a seed in her hands. You must take care to grow and nurture it.’
Daisy had no idea what it meant. She wasn’t the world’s best at gardening. In fact Grandma had once remarked that her granddaughter wasn’t blessed with green fingers but sticky ones.
‘What a lovely card!’ said Aunt Minnie. ‘Yet not a bit like Flo’s.’
Daisy didn’t want to disappoint Aunt Pat so she said quickly, ’I did dream of an angel - once.’
‘It was probably delirium,’ Mother pronounced doubtfully and began to pack away the cards.
Chapter 64
It was past midnight when everyone went to bed. Daisy lay awake as she curled under the blankets on the couch. She still felt the glow of Christmas, as with the blackout curtains drawn, she could see the golden embers of the fire.
A country blackout didn’t seem so dark as it did in the city. Bobby and Will’s regular breathing from their makeshift beds on the floor, made her feel secure. Without the drone of overhead aircraft and the threat of raids, spirits had been uplifted today. The shock of the demolished cottage had been accepted but what would it be like in London, she wondered?
She thought of Sally again and wondered if Bobby was missing Grace? As for Sammy Berger, was he still working at the hospital? So much had happened in such a short time, yet it seemed an eternity since Pops and Uncle Ed had left for Milton Keynes. Had they too, celebrated Christmas in a different way?
Mother and Aunt Betty had been very brave. Daisy knew that just like her, they were homesick. They wanted to get back to London and hopefully, to Aunt Betty’s house where they planned to stay.
Her thoughts wandered for a while until she drifted to sleep. Perhaps she would dream of her card again and learn the meaning of the seed.
Daisy enjoyed the rest of the holiday, especially as the weather was good and the family made several visits to the village. Here they inspected Grandma and Aunt Pat’s prospective abode where the quaint little mews and its close location to the shops was unanimously approved.
Though Daisy’s opinion wasn’t sought, privately she was disappointed. There was no pretty garden or wicket gate and tumbledown shed. No woods to hide in, or fields full of cows to visit. Still, Grandma and Aunt Pat were satisfied and invitations given to visit as soon as they’d moved in.
So it wasn’t until Sunday that Uncle Leo eventually drove them home under an early morning sky that hung heavy with grey rain clouds.
‘Perhaps we should have waited a day or two longer,’ said Mother from the rear seat as they approached the edge of the city. ‘The Air Ministry wireless reports weren’t good, after all. Apart from one night’s grace, the raids are continuous.’
‘We couldn’t have burdened the Webbers any longer,’ replied Aunt Betty. ‘And anyway, I have to get back to work.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Uncle Leo resolutely. ‘Jerry won’t get their act together until the New Year, I’m sure.’
‘Let’s hope so,’ sighed Mother doubtfully. ‘Living in the country for a while is wonderful, but you get a false impression of reality.’
Once the island was reached a cutting wind blew the smell of burning into an open window of the car. Daisy gazed out of her window, shocked to see the bli
tzed and wounded streets. Houses were boarded up or blackened by the smoke of incendiary bombs. People trudged wearily along, collars turned up against the cold.
‘Oh, Leo, it’s worse than we thought,’ whispered Aunt Minnie, leaning forward to study the grim view.
‘Much worse,’ agreed Aunt Betty just as a warden stepped into the road.
‘I hope he doesn’t ask where we’ve travelled,’ worried Mother. ‘We’ll get an awful ticking off.’
‘Stop!’ the warden bawled, thankfully distracted by a cyclist who almost collided with a pedestrian in the dusk. ‘Oi! Watch where you’re going. Get orf that bike and go home!’
‘Put your foot down, Leo,’ insisted Aunt Minnie. ‘He can’t stop us then.’
Daisy giggled as the car sped on while Bobby and Will made faces from the rear window.
‘Boys, no!’ reprimanded Mother. ‘He’s only doing his job. And we’re in the wrong anyway to have made an unnecessary trip.’
‘Well, as it happened, it was necessary,’ reasoned Aunt Betty. ‘Mother and Pat might have been in the cottage when it - ‘
‘But they weren’t!’ interrupted Aunt Minnie sharply. ‘I can’t bear to think of it.’
‘Have we any food at the house?’ Mother asked, changing the subject.
‘Maybe a tin or two.’
‘Let’s hope the water’s on.’
‘It will be nice to sleep in our own beds again.’
‘Good grief! There’s the warning siren already!’ exclaimed Uncle Leo and crashed the gears. ‘Thank goodness we’re almost there.’
Daisy felt a knot of anxiety tie in her stomach. She knew everyone else was anxious too. They could barely wait until Uncle Leo pulled up outside Aunt Betty’s house.
‘No damage,’ he said, glancing out of the window. ’At least, not outside.’
The car emptied in seconds and Aunt Betty let them in. They stood staring at the dust and soot-streaked interior. ‘Well, other than being filthy, the house seems undamaged.’
‘There’s no time to waste,’ said Uncle Leo hurriedly. ‘We’ll take the same things out to the shelter as before.’
‘Daisy, help Bobby and Will to carry the blankets and pails,’ said Mother. ‘I’ll bring Mrs Webber’s food parcel.’
Once again, everyone scrambled to perform their tasks and it was not long before they were all safe, but wondering what the night would bring.
Chapter 65
Daisy’s fond memories of the farm soon faded as the raids deafening assault began. The roar of the aircraft above vibrated the metal casing of the Anderson and shook the earth violently. Blankets were thrown to the ground and Uncle Leo yelled at the top of his voice.
‘Get down, hands over your heads!’ A command that everyone obeyed. They collapsed in a tangle, their gasps of shock and fear masked by the explosive sounds outside.
Daisy was squashed between Mother and Bobby and Will was somewhere close by. It felt as though the roof of the shelter was about to fall in. Dust and dirt sprayed down relentlessly, causing everyone to cough and splutter. But no one dared move as wave after wave of aircraft deposited their lethal cargo on London.
The minutes turned into hours. Bitter cold and damp crept into bones and muscles as the onslaught felt like the end of the world. Without light, Daisy couldn’t see Mother, but she could feel an arm around her. Occasionally soft lips brushed her cheek and consoling words were offered. But hearing anything at all, other than the huge impacts around the shelter, was impossible. A short respite came at some point in the night when the aircraft above retreated - or so it seemed.
‘Stay down,’ thundered Uncle Leo, ‘there’s no telling what will happen next. Will, Bobby, Daisy, are you all right?’
Aunt Minnie assured Uncle Leo that Will was beside her and Mother and Bobby both called out they were safe. Daisy managed a shivery acknowledgement but she felt too cold and tired to say more.
Almost immediately, the Luftwaffe returned. With all hope fading of an end to the attacks, or even a break in the intensity, they lay coupled on the ground, adjusting positions when possible.
Exhausted and cold, Daisy fell fitfully into sleep. She woke briefly in the night, trembling at the repeated explosions, wondering if Bobby and Will were just as afraid as she was.
Was Aunt Betty imagining her house a demolished ruin, like Grandma’s cottage? Was Mother thinking of Poplar Park Row and expecting it to be completely destroyed? She was in no doubt at all that Aunt Minnie and Uncle Leo feared for the studio. If it had been deemed unsafe to live in before tonight, then what would be its fate tomorrow after such a bombardment? That is, she thought desperately, if there was a tomorrow …
No one heard Mr Cook at first. It was Daisy who recognized his voice and saw the pencil line of dawn light above the door.
‘Mr Cook, we’re in here!’ she shouted, slowly moving her cramped limbs. Her call woke Uncle Leo and with stiff, ungainly movements he heaved himself up.
‘Just a second,’ he said in a gruff voice and picked his way past the recumbent bodies to release the door.
‘Steady as you go,’ Mr Cook said as he assisted Uncle Leo and then Daisy from the shelter. A bedraggled group followed, sluggishly dragging themselves into the daylight.
’Thank God. We all came through,’ gasped Aunt Betty, brushing back her tousled hair.
‘I thought the night would never end,’ agreed Mother.
Aunt Minnie shook the dirt from her clothes. ‘It’s the confinement of the shelter I can’t bear. Sometimes I think I’d prefer to be hiding under my kitchen table.’
‘You’d be taking your life in your hands if you did,’ Mr Cook reminded her as they all stood in the gassy, putrid air. ‘Me and my crew have been on the job since dawn. Prepare yourselves for a shock. It was the roughest night so far.’
At this, everyone looked around. The thick, smoke-fuelled air was tinged with the sickening smell of burning.
‘What happened?’ Uncle Leo asked, clearing his throat and swatting the grey dust from his face and hair. ‘Why were we hit so badly?’
‘ ‘itler timed a corker of a raid to coincide with the tide,’ Mr Cook explained. ‘The high explosive parachute mines and fire bombs broke the water mains. Our firemen tried pumping from elsewhere but their engine’s overheated. Buildings were collapsing like nine pins.’ He narrowed his eyes craftily. ’But we had an ace up our sleeve - the elements! Just when the Luftwaffe was getting in their stride, the weather deteriorated over German airfields, so our Air Ministry says. Planes couldn’t take off. Couldn’t land. That’s scuppered their plans.’
‘We saw storm clouds over London on the way back from Wattcombe,’ replied Aunt Betty, wiping the dirt from her face with the back of her sleeve. ‘Little did we know what an important part they would play in our defence.’
‘You can’t beat Mother Nature,’ Mr Cook agreed. ‘Thank Gawd, last night she was on our side. He inspected them all closely. ‘You look as though you’ve had a rough night.’
‘You could say that,’ muttered Uncle Leo.
‘Get yourselves into the house, then,’ said Mr Cook, leading the way. ‘Some of your windows are cracked, but the structure is safe enough.’
‘Oh no!’ gasped Aunt Betty when they reached the kitchen door. ‘Just look at this!’
‘There’s a bit of tidying up to do,’ agreed Mr Cook as everyone contemplated the disaster of the kitchen. Bare, dusty shelves and china fragments strewn everywhere, a chair upended, the surface of the table thick with plaster from the ceiling, pots and pans violently shaken from hooks and scattered across the quarry tiles. And over everything lay a thick layer of grime and soot. ‘ ‘Fraid the other rooms ain’t much better,’ he commiserated. ‘And there’s more … ‘
Everyone spun round to stare at Mr Cook.
‘That empty house over yer broken fence? An incendiary landed in a road close by it. Wouldn’t have done much harm if the building had been stable. But it collapsed and the disposal blokes
have sealed it off.’ He turned and wagged a finger at Daisy and Bobby. ‘Until the area is given the all-clear, don’t play in yer garden.’
‘Is it safe to use our Anderson?’ asked Aunt Betty anxiously.
‘Lucky it’s close to the house,’ replied Mr Cook.
‘But where can we play?’ Daisy protested.
‘In the street, kid. Like thousands of others.’
This wasn’t the reply Daisy had hoped for.
Chapter 66
Daisy stood in the kitchen, watching the changing expressions on the faces around her. Mr Cook’s latest announcement had unsettled them all.
‘There’s no imminent danger,’ said Uncle Leo. ‘Otherwise we’d have been evacuated immediately.’
‘It’s horrible to think that a bomb dropped so close,’ said Mother.
‘There’s not much room in the street to kick a ball,’ complained Bobby.
‘Can we just play by the Anderson?’ Will asked hopefully.
‘No!’ shouted Aunt Minnie and Uncle Leo together. ‘You heard what Mr Cook said.’
‘But - ‘ began Will truculently.
‘No buts, Will,’ said Uncle Leo sternly. ‘You’ll do as you’re told.’
‘What happens tonight?’ asked Mother. ‘Is it really safe to use the shelter?’
‘I don’t see why not,’ shrugged Uncle Leo. ‘Though I noticed they’ve erected a public shelter just down the road. It’s much bigger and might be more comfortable. You might try that.’
Aunt Minnie shook her head. ‘With the best will in the world, Leo, I can’t face it. I want to go home.’ Her wan face was bereft of make-up and Daisy thought that she didn’t look at all like her bubbly, beautiful aunt with golden hair and scarlet lips. ‘If I’m going to die I want to die on my own clean floorboards. Or in our bed with proper pillows and freshly washed linen.’
