‘Do you know what it is?’
‘Nope, but he’s pretty chuffed about something. Perhaps they’ve got the wireless going.’
‘I hope so. Not knowing what’s going on beyond that wire is enough to drive me mad.’ Ben turned and strode towards the hut, with Shorty trotting to keep up with his long strides.
The hut was packed and they only managed to push in right at the back. Some hadn’t been able to get in and were hanging in the open windows.
‘I’ll make this as short as possible, because the guards will soon come to see what we’re up to.’ The Major held up his hand for silence. ‘We’ve managed to get a wireless working, and there are two important pieces of news. Paris was liberated last month.’
A loud cheer went up.
‘Quiet! We’ve also heard reports of London being bombed again with unmanned flying bombs and rockets.’
‘Oh my God!’ Shorty went pale. ‘Hope my wife and kids have had the sense to move to the country.’
‘But the bastards must be about finished,’ one of the other prisoners growled in rage. ‘If the Allies are in Paris, then they’ll keep going until they reach Berlin.’
‘They will, and that’s why I’m going to order you to stop all attempts to escape.’
There was a disgruntled mutter.
‘I know it’s tough to ask that of you, but we don’t want to antagonize the guards. Let’s sit tight, keep our heads down, and see how things shape up. We could be free in a few months.’
At that moment the guards burst in, ordering everyone out to the yard for a roll call.
They were carefully counted, and when it was found that they were all present, they were dismissed.
Ben continued his prowl, hands clenched into tight fists as frustration raged through him. He knew every inch of the damned barbed wire, and he wasn’t the only one who had made a habit of walking the perimeter over the years. Are you in Paris, Howard? A few letters had reached the camp, but nothing for him. And what about his parents, Amy, John, Ted and Mrs Dalton? Had they survived the Blitz, only to be in danger from these new weapons? Who was he going to find waiting for him when he did eventually arrive home? Not knowing what was happening out there was torture. He had never felt so helpless in his life.
Shorty walked with him, his expression equally concerned. ‘Good news, and bad news, eh?’
Ben nodded, lifted his head and sighed, glancing down at his friend in sympathy. ‘Your wife would have taken herself and the children out of London, Shorty. She wouldn’t risk anything happening to them, would she?’
‘Nah.’ His usual cheery smile was back. ‘Course not. My missus is a sensible girl, and loves the kids too much to see them frightened. Bloody worrying, though.’
Ben nodded in agreement. At least he knew that John wouldn’t allow Amy to be in danger. She was probably spending the war with his parents in Hampshire. ‘I wish I was out there fighting with the others.’
‘I know you do, so do I, but we’ve got to put up with this for a bit longer.’ He hunched his shoulders. ‘All we’ve got to do is stay alive until the boys reach us, and the first thing I’m going to ask for is a packet of fags.’
That made Ben chuckle, and consider his friend with respect. If it hadn’t been for Shorty, he would have gone mad long ago, and perhaps done something reckless and got himself killed. ‘You and your cigarettes.’
‘Addicted, that’s what I am, but I tell you what, Ben, once we get back to London, I’ll buy you a pint, and chain-smoke my way through a packet of twenty.’
‘I’ll keep you to that.’
The birthday party was a riotous success, with Amy and the grandparents having as much fun as the children. Three of the neighbours’ children had come, each bearing a small gift for the birthday girl, making Grace beam with pleasure. For a few hours the war was forgotten.
Ted and Mrs Dalton caught the late afternoon train back to London. Amy knew her daughter missed them as much as she did, but hopefully the war would soon be over and they could all be together again.
Little Grace seemed to have boundless energy and wouldn’t allow them to sleep in the next day. They were all laughing about the party, and Grace’s excitement was still bubbling over. But when Amy saw Ted walking up the path around midday, her pleasure faded.
She rushed to meet him, knowing something must have happened to bring him back so quickly. He looked very serious, and that frightened the life out of her. ‘What’s happened?’
‘Howard’s been injured. He’s in a military hospital in Aldershot.’
‘Oh no! How bad is he?’ Amy held on to Ted for support. ‘I must go to him.’
‘He’s got shrapnel wounds to his back and one arm, and a broken leg. There’s no need for you to go all that way.’ Ted took hold of her hand. ‘His parents are with him, and Chrissie is also working at the same hospital, so he’s being taken good care of. The doctors have said that he will make a full recovery.’
‘Oh, thank goodness.’
‘Ted, can you get a message to Howard? We’ve got plenty of room, and he can convalesce here.’ Charles glanced at his wife who was nodding approval. ‘Mr and Mrs Palmer will be welcome to stay as well.’
‘They’ll appreciate that. I’ll let them know.’
Amy desperately wanted to go and see Howard, but Ted was right, he was being well looked after. ‘Send him my love as well, Ted, and tell him to hurry up and get better.’
35
Over the next few weeks, Howard gradually recovered, but it was the middle of December before he was strong enough to come and stay with John’s parents. Much to everyone’s relief it was clear that he would make a full recovery from his injuries.
His parents had managed to save enough petrol to bring him down in their car, and when they arrived he had to be helped out, and stood beside the car leaning heavily on a stick. But that didn’t stop little Grace from rushing up, all excited, and dancing around waiting to be picked up. Amy watched the scene in wonder. Her daughter had seen so little of Howard, and yet, whenever he turned up, she greeted him like this. Would she do the same with Ben, she wondered, or would she be cautious with a man she had only heard them talk about? Everyone said that the war would be over next year, but the worry remained. Since being told that he was a prisoner, they’d received no further news. Had he seen any of the letters she had written to him over the years? She hoped he had, but they were probably all sitting in some army office, gathering dust. Stay safe, was her constant prayer. Howard had survived and, having been declared unfit for further duty, was now out of the army. That was something to be grateful for.
She saw Grace reaching up to Howard, chattering away, expecting to be swept up high, as Howard always did when he saw her, but not this time. ‘Grace!’
She spun round to look at her mother, holding on to Howard’s hand.
‘Uncle Howard can’t pick you up this time.’ She hurried over and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Oh, it’s good to see you. We’ve all been so worried about you.’
‘Why are you walking like that?’ Grace asked as she trotted beside him as they made their way towards the house.
‘Because I broke my leg,’ he explained.
‘Ow, did it hurt?’
‘Very much, but it will be all right soon, and then I’ll be able to pick you up again.’
That promise produced a huge smile, and she danced up to her grandmother, telling her what Howard had said.
He watched, his hand resting on Amy’s shoulder, then he gave it a squeeze. ‘She’s growing into the image of John, except for her hair.’ He grinned down at her. ‘That’s an unruly bush, just like yours.’
‘I hope that’s all she’s inherited from me.’ This was still a worry for Amy, but they would know for sure in another year or two.
‘She’ll be able to read and write, Amy,’ Howard said gently. ‘It’s most unlikely that the problem you have will be passed on to her.’
‘I hope you’re right.’ She smi
led up at him, pleased he was going to stay with them until the New Year. ‘Now, you go and sit by that lovely wood fire while I help Mildred get the tea.’
The house was packed for Christmas with Ted and Mrs Dalton also staying over. Amy and Grace gave up their room and slept on the settee in the lounge, which the little girl thought was great fun.
Howard was delighted when Chrissie was able to join them for two days, and they toasted in 1945 together. But the absence of John and Ben was sorely felt.
By early January, Howard was walking without the aid of a stick, and able to move his arm freely.
Amy watched him staring out of the window as the weather made a half-hearted attempt to snow. He was brooding about something. She stood beside him, and asked softly, ‘What’s the matter, Howard?’
He glanced down at her and pulled a face. ‘I’m restless. I need to work, Amy, so I’ve decided to go back to Chelsea and try to get my life back in order.’
Ah, so that was it. She had been watching him for the last week; he had been quiet, distracted, and clearly bored with the inactivity. She wasn’t surprised by his decision. In fact, she had been feeling much the same herself. ‘Good idea. We’ll come with you.’ She slipped her hand through his arm. ‘The war can’t last much longer, and we must start planning for when we open our shop again.’
His face came to life with a slow grin of pleasure. ‘I’ll make some pots and you can decorate them, and there’s a sculpture in my head that I’m eager to start.’
‘You going to tell me what it is?’ How wonderful it would be to get those old times back, she thought, though she knew they would never be quite the same again after all they had been through. But it was comforting to start planning for the future.
‘Nope, you’ll have to wait and see. What about Grace, will you leave her here?’
‘I can’t bear to be parted from her, and things seem to be quiet at the moment, so we’ll both come home.’
‘Don’t forget Manchester was hit by V one bombs on Christmas Eve. The danger might not be over yet.’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ She looked up with a wide grin on her face. ‘The Home Guard were decommissioned in early December, so the politicians must think the war’s as good as over.’
‘The poor old Home Guard,’ he chided her, ‘they had to put up with a lot of jokes, didn’t they? But they could have found themselves in the front line if things had gone differently. You’re right, though, things must soon come to an end, but Hitler doesn’t seem to have got the message yet. Once the troops cross the Rhine, he’ll have to accept that he’s finished.’
‘Do you wish you were still out there?’
‘I would have liked to get to Germany and see if I could trace Ben, but, truthfully, I’m glad to be home for good.’
‘We’re glad you’re back, as well.’
Grace burst in and stopped their quiet conversation. ‘Mummy, it’s trying to snow!’
‘I know, darling, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough to settle. You won’t be able to play snowballs yet.’
‘Oh.’ Her disappointment showed, and then disappeared at once. ‘Granny’s knitting my new dolly another dress. She’s nearly finished it.’ She tore out again.
‘It was so good of her grandma to give her that lovely doll she’d had as a child. Grace is thrilled to bits with it, isn’t she?’
Howard gave Amy a speculative glance. ‘John’s parents are going to be upset when you leave and take Grace with you.’
‘I know.’ Amy sighed. ‘But we can’t live here all the time, Howard, however much they would like us to. Our home is with all of you in Chelsea, and when Ben comes back we can open the shop again. I can’t let Charles and Mildred keep us all the time, it wouldn’t be right, not for any of us. John has left us well provided for, but I want to keep that money for Grace, if I can. I very much want us to go back into business again.’
‘So do I.’ Howard ran his hand over Amy’s hair in a soothing gesture, his face serious. ‘I know this is painful for us, but we must face the fact that Ben might not be coming back.’
‘I like to include him in our plans, and until we know what has really happened to him, in my mind it will still be the three of us.’
Howard nodded. ‘But if the worst happens, we can go ahead on our own, can’t we? We must face that possibility, Amy,’ he stressed again.
‘Of course.’ It hurt, but she knew he was right. Even if Ben had survived the years as a prisoner, what was going to happen when the Allies fought their way into Germany? It was a frightening thought.
‘Come on.’ Howard shrugged his shoulders as if trying to dislodge a heavy weight resting on them. ‘Let’s go and break the news that we’re leaving.’
Amy pulled a face. ‘I’m not looking forward to that, but I must move on with my life. John’s parents can always come and stay with us in Chelsea. Mrs Dalton will put them up for a few days, I’m sure.’
Her in-laws were in the kitchen with Howard’s parents, listening to Grace’s never-ending chatter, and Amy took a deep breath. This was one step she had known would come, but she had kept putting it off. It was only natural that John’s parents adored the daughter of the son they had lost, and she hated to hurt them by telling them that she was leaving, but it had to be done.
Howard draped a supporting arm around her shoulder. ‘I want to thank all of you for looking after me so well. It has helped my recovery to stay in this lovely house, and I’m grateful, but I’m now well enough to go back to Chelsea and start work again.’ He smiled down at Amy. ‘We’ve been talking, and have decided that, as it’s unlikely the war will last much longer, we should be making plans to reopen our shop.’
‘I thought it wouldn’t be long before you decided to do that.’ His father looked pleased. ‘It’s time we went home, as well.’
‘When are you leaving?’
‘I thought tomorrow, Mum.’ He glanced questioningly at Amy. ‘Is that all right with you?’
‘Yes, that’s fine.’ She watched her in-laws’ faces pale and Mildred fight for control. She did a good job of it and managed to smile. ‘You’re taking Grace with you, of course.’
‘Yes, we’ve loved being here, but it’s time to return to our own home. You can come and visit whenever you want, and we’ll come here for the weekend often. You’ll see a lot of Grace, I promise.’
‘Well, in that case, I’d better finish this dress.’ She smiled at her granddaughter. ‘We can’t have your dolly getting cold on the train, can we, sweetheart?’
Grace shook her head, making her mass of hair swirl around her face. Then she swivelled round to face her mother. ‘Are we going home, Mummy? Have the nasty bombs stopped?’
‘We think so, darling, but if they start again we’ll come straight back here. Oscar will be so happy to see you.’ Amy added that because she could see that Grace was still worried about the flying bombs.
‘Are you staying for good, Uncle Howard?’
‘I am.’ He swept her up, making her squeal with delight. ‘And I’m going to teach you to paint pots like your mother.’ He lifted her high and then put her back on the chair.
Amy knew he had done this to show everyone he was strong again.
Charles stood up. ‘We can’t have you going back to London on a freezing cold train. Ben’s car is still here, and there’s petrol in my car, so let’s siphon it off and then you can drive back.’
‘We can’t take your precious petrol,’ Amy protested.
‘I insist. Come on, Howard, give me a hand to get Ben’s car ready.’
Mildred held out her hand to little Grace. ‘We’ll start packing your things, shall we?’
36
‘What the hell’s going on, Major?’ Ben shivered in the cold, trying to shield Shorty from the biting wind whistling across the yard.
‘It looks like they’re going to move us. God, I hope I’m wrong.’
‘There aren’t any trucks.’ Ben caught hold of Shorty to support him
as he had a coughing fit.
‘I’ll go and find out what they’re up to.’
The Major was back in five minutes, and stood in front of the assembled men. ‘The bastards are moving us. I want you to put on every bit of clothing you’ve got, bring blankets and anything that will keep you warm. We’ve got to walk to the next camp. You’ve got ten minutes only, then we must be ready to march.’
‘Oh, God, Ben,’ Shorty gasped. He trembled with fever. ‘I ain’t never going to survive a forced march.’
‘Yes you bloody well are!’ Ben growled in rage. ‘You’re going to make it if I have to carry you every step of the way.’
Charlie looked ready to commit murder when they got back to their hut. ‘The sods must be panicking, and that means our troops can’t be far away. Don’t you worry, Shorty, me and Ben will see you make it.’
‘Where we going, Major?’ Shorty croaked.
‘They won’t tell me, or why we’re being moved. Let’s hope it isn’t far. Quite a few of the men are in a poor state.’
‘Why don’t the buggers just leave us and run.’ Ben and Charlie wrapped Shorty in a blanket, pulling it over his head to protect him from the severe weather. Others who were sick were being helped in the same way. They had all been in this camp for a long time, and were determined that everyone was going to survive the march. With the Allies getting closer each day, they couldn’t die now. They wouldn’t!
With grim determination they lined up again, and marched out of the gates that had held them prisoner since 1940.
Ben lost all track of time, or where they were going. Day after day they walked with very little food; many stumbled and fell, but were quickly helped up by friends. Shorty was so ill, Ben carried him piggyback style until he was numb with fatigue. Charlie took a turn now and again to give him a rest, but he wasn’t nearly as strong as Ben. He had guts, though, and a burning hatred for the enemy that kept him going.
‘Here, Ben, drink this.’ Charlie handed him a mug of watery soup.
One Step at a Time Page 31
