The boys were the first out of the door, as usual, and she marvelled at how quickly they were growing. Their father was tall, over six feet, and it looked as if his sons were going to take after him. They were five now, six this year, and had moved up to the junior school. She had wondered if they would start to look slightly different as they grew, but there was no sign of that happening. They were still identical, even growing at the same rate and height. They had very different characters though, and that was the only way to tell them apart.
She always received a full report of their day as they walked through the village, and she was surprised when they both suddenly stopped talking. Looking up she saw what had caught their attention. Coming towards them were three Americans in their smart, very different uniforms.
‘Hey! Look at this.’ One of them was gazing intently at the boys, and then he stooped down, laughing. ‘You’re identical!’
‘So they are!’ The three men were now clustered around the twins, marvelling at the sight.
‘How do you tell them apart, ma’am?’ one asked.
‘There are slight differences,’ she answered, ‘but you have to get to know them before you can see it. This is Andrew and this is David,’ she told them.
‘Ah, I guess you’d know by being their mother.’
‘She isn’t our mother.’ David had found his voice at last. ‘Hanna’s our nanny.’
‘Your nanny! My, aren’t you lucky boys.’
They both nodded in agreement, smiling up at Hanna.
Andrew studied the men carefully for a few moments more, then said, ‘You don’t sound like us.’
‘We’re from America, and I’m finding it cold here. My name’s Hal and I come from California, you see, and it’s warm there.’
‘Oh, and are you cold as well?’ Andrew asked the one who had spoken to them first.
‘No, I come from New York, and it can get mighty cold there. My name’s Bob, by the way.’
‘Jack’s been there, hasn’t he, Hanna?’ David asked.
‘Yes, and he liked it.’
‘It’s quite a place.’ Bob dived in his pocket and brought out two small bars of chocolate. ‘All right if I give the boys these, miss?’
Andrew and David had their eyes fixed on the sweets, and Hanna nodded. ‘They’ve seen them now, so I can hardly refuse.’
Bob bent down to the boys again and handed over the chocolate bars, smiling with pleasure. ‘I think I’d better give one to your nanny as well, don’t you? We can’t leave her out, can we?’
‘Hanna likes chocolate,’ David told him. ‘But we don’t get much now the war’s on.’
‘Then she deserves a treat.’ He took another bar out of his pocket and handed it to Hanna.
She hesitated, not sure if she should take it, but realized they were just being kind and she didn’t want to offend them. ‘Thank you, but you mustn’t give away all your chocolate.’
‘Don’t you worry about that, miss, I’ve got lots and I like kids. I know you don’t get much here.’
She smiled at him, and then looked at the boys. ‘Thank the kind gentlemen.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘What do you think of that, Bob?’ One of them slapped the American with the chocolate on the back. ‘Not only are you called a gentleman, but also sir. You sure have got nice manners here, miss.’
She inclined her head in acknowledgement, wanting to get away, but hesitated. Jack had been to New York quite a few times and told her that they had always been made welcome. These young men were in a strange country and probably missing their homes and families. And the twins clearly thought this was far too exciting to leave at the moment.
‘Our daddy’s the captain of a big ship,’ David told them proudly, ‘and Hanna’s brother was on a ship that got sunk. But he’s all right now.’
The one called Bob stooped down again. ‘That sure is good news, and you must be very proud of both of them.’
‘We are,’ Andrew said. ‘They’re ever so brave, and we’re going to win the war. Have you come to fight the Germans as well?’
‘We sure have, sonny.’
David nodded at that reply. ‘When your ships all got sunk our daddy and Jack were very upset.’
‘So were we, boys. That was a terrible thing to do.’
David and Andrew nodded, their faces serious now, and when they both opened their mouths to speak again, Hanna knew it was time to go. The boys were settling in and the questions would keep pouring out. She took their hands and smiled at the Americans. ‘Thank you again for the chocolate, but we must be getting back now.’
‘Oh, sure, miss.’ Bob stood up. ‘It’s been a real pleasure talking to you and these fine boys.’
When the others agreed, Hanna said, ‘It was very nice to meet you, and welcome to Britain.’
The Americans watched and waved until they were out of sight, and as soon as they arrived home the boys couldn’t wait to tell everyone about their meeting. After dinner the chocolate was shared out so everyone could have a piece.
Twenty-Three
There hadn’t been much to cheer about as the year dragged on. Jack came home a couple of times, and apart from talking about the new ship he was on, he said nothing about what he was facing at sea. Alan was obviously abroad somewhere because Hanna hadn’t seen him at all. His letters sometimes came in twos and threes, but of course gave no indication of his whereabouts. Captain Harcourt had made fleeting visits home earlier in the year, but they hadn’t seen him for some time either.
‘Cold and wet out there.’ Pete stomped into the kitchen where they all congregated, as it was the warmest place in the house in winter, and the coolest in the summer when they opened the large doors facing the garden.
‘What on earth have you been up to?’ his grandmother exclaimed. ‘You’re filthy.’
‘Been crawling through the woods,’ he grinned. ‘A wet November day is not the time to do that.’
Hanna had to smile. Frustrated that he was too young for the forces, Pete had joined the Home Guard as soon as they would take him, and by the look of him, he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
‘Time for the news. Put the wireless on, Grandad, and see what’s going on.’ Pete removed his boots and jacket and then rinsed his hands under the tap before sitting down.
‘Don’t know that I want to hear it,’ George grumbled. ‘It seems to be all bad just lately.’
‘That will change.’ Pete nodded with confidence.
‘Ah, the resilience of youth.’ George switched on the wireless, tuning it carefully so they could all hear.
What they heard had them all standing on their feet, cheering and jumping around.
‘That’s bloody marvellous!’ George beamed. ‘Begging your pardon, Mrs Harcourt.’
‘Swear all you like, George.’
‘What’s happened?’ The boys were hanging on to their mother, and then they turned to Hanna, not understanding what all the fuss was about. ‘What’s happened?’
‘The British have defeated Rommel and pushed the Germans out of North Africa. It’s a big victory.’
‘Is the war over then?’ the boys asked.
‘No, I’m afraid not, but it is something to cheer about,’ Hanna explained.
When they had all calmed down, Jane said, ‘Do you think that’s where Alan is, Hanna?’
‘I really don’t know, but I wouldn’t be surprised. If he is then he might be coming home soon.’
Three days later it wasn’t Alan who arrived but Jack, and this was cause for more celebration. He’d walked in just as Hanna was about to go and collect the boys from school, so Jack dumped his bag and went with her. He looked well, if a little tired.
‘How long have you got?’ she asked as they walked to the village.
‘Seven whole days.’ He looked down at her and smiled. ‘You’re looking great, Hanna. This country life obviously suits you.’
‘It does, and I’m not going to want to go back to London
when the war’s over, but that will depend on what Alan decides to do. He’ll go back into the police force as soon as he can, and then it will depend on where he is stationed. He has suggested that he wouldn’t mind being a country copper, but we’ll have to wait and see about that. The boys are growing up fast, and in another couple of years they’re not going to need me any more.’
‘Let’s hope the war is over by then, and once Alan is home for good you’ll be able to plan for the future.’
‘It’s hard to look that far ahead because we don’t know what’s going to happen.’ She sighed. ‘Or how much longer this war will last. We’ve had a victory in North Africa, but we’re still a long way from defeating Hitler.’
‘True, but the tide could be turning in our direction at last. In the beginning we had the feeling that the Germans were invincible, but now we know they are not. We won the Battle of Britain in the air, more of their submarines are being detected and sunk, and now we’ve had this victory at El Alamein. I know there’s no end in sight, but these are all hopeful signs.’
‘Yes they are.’ She slipped her hand through his arm. ‘But for the next seven days we’ll forget about the war and enjoy the time you are here. The boys will be excited to see you. Their father hasn’t been home for months and I know they miss him very much.’
‘Yes, it’s hard for them. I’m looking forward to seeing them, and I’ve got them a couple of unusual presents from my travels.’
They didn’t have time to say anything else, because as soon as they reached the school, the doors burst open and the children poured out, David and Andrew at the front as usual. They spotted Jack immediately and, yelling their welcome, they rushed towards him.
The boys were so pleased to see Jack, and had so much to tell him, that Hanna didn’t get a word in all the way back to the farm.
As soon as they walked into the kitchen, Jack said, ‘See my bag on that chair? There might be something in there for you. Why don’t you have a look?’
Giving cries of excitement, they dived in to see what was there.
Jane shook her head as she watched her sons sorting through Jack’s bag. ‘Jack, I’m wasting my time telling you not to spend your money on the boys, aren’t I?’
‘I enjoy doing it, and it’s nothing much.’ Jack’s expression was serious. ‘You have welcomed us into your home and made us feel a part of your family. That means a great deal to both of us. More than you could ever know.’
‘What are these, Jack?’ David asked, staring at the thing in his hands, a puzzled expression on his face, and the same on his brother’s, as he held a similar item. ‘They look like dolls.’
‘Ah, but they’ve got a secret. Can you find it?’
Eagerly setting about the task, Andrew was the first to figure it out. ‘Oh, the top comes off and there’s another one inside.’
‘And another one inside that!’ David laughed, taking out one after the other and lining them up on the table for everyone to see.
‘They’re Russian!’ George murmured in Hanna’s ear. ‘I’ve seen pictures of them. Your brother’s been on the convoys to Russia.’
‘Thank you, Uncle Jack,’ the boys said together, laughing as they put the brightly coloured figures together, then took them apart again. ‘Wait till we show them at school.’
Jack looked taken aback for a moment, and then grinned at Hanna. ‘I seem to have been promoted.’
‘That’s how they think of you now, as an uncle,’ Jane told him. ‘And it’s lovely.’
‘I’m honoured.’
When she saw her brother look fondly at the boys, Hanna was thrilled for him. Jack was so good with children, and she hoped that one day he would marry and have a family of his own. But he had to get through the war first – they all had to get through the blasted war.
The next day Hanna and Jack had been feeding the animals, and all her efforts to get Jack to rest had been swept aside. After a couple of hours she had to admit that not only was her brother very fit, but unbelievably strong. When they found a fully grown sheep tangled in a wire fence, she watched him lift it free with apparent ease, and her mind went back to their father. Her memory of him wasn’t all that clear because she had only been eight when he had died, but she did have a picture of a tall, strong man. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized that Jack was growing up to be just like him.
He walked back to her. ‘Goodness knows how they get into such a mess. Soppy thing. I’ve fixed the fence so it won’t happen again.’
‘Good job you were here with me. I’d never have been able to free her, and now I think we are due a break and a nice cup of tea.’ They got in the truck and Hanna drove them back to the house.
‘You’ll have to teach me how to drive while I’m here, Hanna.’
‘George is the one to do that. I’m sure he’d love to teach you.’ She grinned. ‘I’m not allowed out on the roads yet.’
Pete and George were already sitting at the table when they arrived. ‘Hanna said you might teach me to drive while I’m home?’
‘We’ll need more than a few days, Jack,’ George told him, ‘but we can make a start if you like?’
‘Thanks, that would be marvellous.’
The kitchen door opened, letting in a blast of cold air as Jane arrived wearing her WVS uniform. ‘Good, I’m just in time for tea. It’s perishing out there.’ After removing her hat and coat, she sat down. ‘The Americans are throwing a big party for all the local children tomorrow afternoon at Bury St Edmonds, and everyone is invited.’
‘Not me!’ George held up his hands in horror.
‘Nor me,’ agreed his wife. ‘We’ll stay here in the quiet.’
‘I can’t come either; I’m on Home Guard duty.’ Pete looked disappointed.
‘Cowards,’ Jane grinned, turning to Hanna. ‘That leaves us, but what about you, Jack?’
‘Count me in. It should be interesting.’
George drove them to the party, and after promising to come back in a couple of hours, hastily left.
The volume of sound that hit them when they stepped through the door was enough to pierce eardrums, and they stood there laughing, knowing exactly why George had driven away in such a hurry. He did love a quiet life.
The place was packed with children of all ages, and also American soldiers and airmen. It was hard to tell who was making the most noise, and Jack gazed around shaking his head in disbelief. ‘They must have gathered every child for miles around. And look at the amount of food they’ve got,’ he shouted. ‘Those tables at the end of the room are about to collapse under the strain.’
‘This is unbelievable!’ Jane was laughing, still holding on to the boys who were taking in the chaotic scene before launching into the scrum as soon as their mother let them go. As soon as they were released they were off.
‘Hey, Nanny! Glad you could make it. I’m Hal, remember?’
She nodded. ‘The boys couldn’t wait to come, so thank you for inviting us. This is Mrs Harcourt and my brother, Jack.’
‘And where are those boys?’ Hal asked, looking around the room. ‘Ah. I see them, and here they come. Swell party, isn’t it?’ he said, stooping down to the twins as soon as they reached them. ‘Did you enjoy your chocolate?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ they said politely. ‘We all had some.’
‘Well, that’s nice, and we’ve got lots here for you to eat. Want to come and have a look?’
When they eagerly agreed, Hal stood up, holding out his hands to each twin, and then he glanced at Mrs Harcourt. ‘With your permission, ma’am?’
‘Of course.’
As they walked towards the tables laden with food, Hal was shouting, ‘Hey! Bob, look what I’ve found!’
Jack was in fits of laughter. ‘Just wait until I tell the crew about this. Who is this party for? It looks as if the hosts are enjoying it as much as the kids.’
‘Hello, Nanny, it’s good to see you again.’
‘Oh, hello. It’s Bob, is
n’t it?’ she asked, hoping she had remembered his name correctly, and when he nodded, she introduced him to Jane and her brother.
Bob shook Jack’s hand vigorously. ‘It’s a real pleasure to meet you. I’ve got a brother, Greg, who is a merchant seaman. It’s tough out there.’
‘At times,’ was all Jack said.
He nodded and smiled, clearly delighted to see them. ‘Come on, folks; let’s get you something to eat. You just help yourselves; we’ve got plenty more in the kitchen here.’
The selection of food was a rare sight and Hanna didn’t know where to start, but Jack was having no trouble deciding. ‘Is that real salmon?’ Hanna asked Jane.
‘It is, and sliced beef, chicken, ham, and a lot of things I don’t know. I think I’ll have a little bit of fresh salmon. It looks delicious.’ Jane looked around for her sons. ‘I hope they don’t eat too much and make themselves sick. I’ve never seen so many jellies, trifles and cream cakes.’
‘Nor me,’ Hanna mumbled, filling her plate with the luxuries in front of her.
It was the wildest couple of hours they had ever spent, and they enjoyed every minute. So did the children. Hal and Bob had taken sole charge of the boys, making sure they had a good time, and never letting them out of their sight. Jack joined in with the fun, but Hanna and Jane were happy to watch.
Every child was given a present and a bag of goodies to take home with them at the end of the party. Hal brought the twins back to Jane with another American who said his name was Ed, and Hanna recognized him as one of those she’d met in the village. Bob was still talking earnestly with Jack, obviously having taken a liking to him.
‘Thank you for a lovely party.’ Jane smiled at her sons. ‘Have you said thank you to Hal, Bob and Ed for taking care of you?’
‘Yes, we have.’ Their faces were glowing with pleasure. ‘We’ve had fun.’
‘So I noticed.’ The level of noise had subsided now and Jane was able to talk without shouting. She shook hands with the three Americans. ‘This has been very kind of you. We live at Harcourt Farm, just outside the village, and you would be welcome there if you would like to visit us.’
A New Day Page 18
