Home Front Girls

Annabelle had become VADs. And then of course there were the others like Lucy herself who were busily making parts for Spitfires and tanks in the munitions factories. Each job was as important as the next and Lucy was glad to be able to do something worthwhile, although she still missed working with her friends.
    After sharing a cup of tea with her kindly neighbour, she crossed the yard to her own home where she fed Harry, gave him a few moments in what was left of the garden, then dropped into bed exhausted and was asleep the instant she closed her eyes.
     
    ‘Ah, here you are, darling,’ Miranda greeted her late that afternoon when Lucy arrived at the house. The For Sale board was still in the garden but Miranda had given up hope of selling the Lodge now. Few people were willing to spend money on a house that could be razed to the ground at any time. And so instead she had ‘pulled her belt in’ as Churchill had instructed the nation to do. Many of the rooms were shut off now, especially since Annabelle had gone, and Miranda spent her time between the kitchen and the bedroom.
    Now she nearly dragged Lucy through to the kitchen as she waved an envelope at her. ‘I had a letter from Annabelle this morning,’ she told the girl, as if the Crown Jewels had dropped through her letterbox. ‘And she’s safe and well, thank goodness.’
    ‘I had one from her too,’ Lucy smiled. ‘And one from Dotty.’
    Her face dropped then and Miranda squeezed her hand. ‘You miss them too, don’t you, pet?’ she asked, and Lucy nodded and blinked back tears.
    ‘I do, but they both said that they’re going to try and visit over Christmas so that’s something to look forward to, isn’t
    it?’
    ‘That’s if Haslar doesn’t have another sudden influx of patients and Dotty can get a train,’ Miranda pointed out. The constant attacks by the Jerries were soul-destroying for the railwaymen, who were working around the clock to try and keep the trains running. Then brightening a little she asked, ‘And how is Dotty doing in London?’
    ‘Well, the letter was quite brief,’ Lucy told her as she unwound her scarf from about her neck. ‘But then it would be, wouldn’t it, seeing as she’s still one-handed at the minute. But she sounded cheerful enough, although she’s frustrated because she can’t type. Robert’s bought her a new typewriter and she says Laura has made her feel really welcome. She asked me to give you her love and to tell you that she’ll write you a nice long letter just as soon as her cast is off.’
    ‘I’ll look forward to that then.’ It was growing dark now and Miranda hurried across to draw the blackouts before asking, ‘Have you eaten yet? I’ve got a Spam casserole and a semolina pudding in the oven, and it’s far too big for me. I can’t seem to get used to cooking for one. You will share some with me, won’t you?’
    ‘If you put it that way, how can I refuse?’ Lucy said with a twinkle in her eye, but inside her heart was heavy. Miranda was obviously missing Annabelle far more than she would let on, if her pale, drawn face was anything to go by. The girl knew that she worried about her husband too, but there was nothing she could say that would ease the woman’s pain. Only having her husband and daughter safely home again could do that – and who knew how long that might take? The newspapers were still full of doom and gloom and the war seemed to be intensifying, if anything.
    ‘Are you going to get a Christmas tree this year?’ Lucy asked, hoping to lift the mood a little.
    Miranda shrugged. ‘I can’t see much point, to be honest. The money could be better spent on other things at present and on Christmas Day I’ll go over to visit my parents so I won’t be here that much to see it. I might try to find some holly though, just to perk the place up a bit in case Annabelle does manage to get home. What are you planning to do?’
    ‘I shall spend it with Mr and Mrs P.’ Lucy fetched the tablecloth and spread it across the table. She had visited so many times now that she knew where everything was and didn’t need to be asked.
    ‘It would be nice to get an unbroken night’s sleep for a change, wouldn’t it?’ Miranda yawned when they’d finished their meal. ‘It’s not just us copping it now though. London is being hit pretty badly too, according to the papers. I just wonder if Dotty is safe, that’s all.’
    ‘Well, she’s got Robert to look out for her