Home Front Girls

Miranda, a pretty hat for Lucy, and some perfume for Annabelle. I just have to get something for Robert now. Do you have any suggestions?’ She had already bought presents for Laura and her family the week before when she had gone shopping with Robert, but she didn’t mention that, of course. The gifts were safely hidden away in her room.
    ‘Hmm.’ Laura tapped her lip thoughtfully with her gloved finger before suggesting, ‘How about a nice scarf for him?’
    Dotty pulled a face. It didn’t seem like much of a gift considering all he did for her, and she could easily afford something more expensive with the allowance Mr Jenkins had forwarded to her.
    ‘I know,’ she said suddenly as an idea popped into her head. ‘How about a pen? A really nice pen, I mean. One that he could keep.’ She thought regretfully of the one that her mother had bought for her, now buried beneath tons of rubble and lost forever.
    ‘I think he’d love that,’ Laura said, and taking Dotty’s elbow she propelled her in the direction of a shop where she had a feeling she would find just what she was looking for.
    An hour later they caught a bus to Liverpool Street, and from there walked home feeling content with their purchases. Dotty had bought Robert a solid silver fountain pen and could hardly wait for Christmas morning when she could give it to him. Back indoors, they drank a pot of tea before Laura rushed off to fetch the children from school.
    ‘An’ what are you plannin’ on doin’ tonight then?’ Ada Wiggins asked as she cleared the dirty dishes into the sink.
    ‘Robert is taking me to the Finsbury Park Empire to see Max Miller, the Cheeky Chappie, and I was wondering if you’d mind helping me wash my hair again, please, Mrs Wiggins?’
    ‘O’ course I don’t mind,’ the woman told her cheerily. ‘We ’ave to ’ave you lookin’ yer best. I must say I’m quite envious. I do like Max Miller meself an’ they reckon it’s a grand show, but you wouldn’t get my old man to anyfink like that, not if ’e was under threat of death. Let’s just ’ope Jerry stays away, eh? We don’t want no raids to spoil it fer you.’ She then scurried off to put the kettle on for some hot water and an hour later Dotty sat by the fire as the woman rubbed at her hair with a towel.
    Robert arrived promptly at seven o’clock in a taxi to pick her up and as they drove towards the theatre he whispered, ‘You’re looking really lovely tonight, Dotty.’
    She blushed furiously. She was still not used to compliments and never quite knew how to respond to them.
    ‘I er . . . was wondering if you still think we might be able to get back to Coventry for a brief visit before Christmas?’ she asked hopefully, keen to change the subject.
    ‘Actually I was thinking the day after tomorrow, the day before Christmas Eve, if that suits you?’ Robert was pleased when he saw her face light up. He knew that she regarded Lucy and Annabelle as her nearest and dearest, although they were only friends
    ‘Oh, that would be marvellous. Thank you, but are you sure you can spare the time?’
    ‘The Christmas and New Year edition of the magazine went to print first thing yesterday morning, so after tomorrow evening when I’ve tidied a few things up, I’m all yours for the holiday,’ he assured her. ‘All we have to do now is hope that the trains are running.’
    She sent up a silent prayer that they would be.
     
    ‘Dotty, Robert, come in! Oh, it’s so lovely to see you! We weren’t sure that you’d make it with the weather being so appalling.’ Miranda hugged Dotty with delight, being careful not to hurt her arm, which was still in a sling tucked beneath her coat. She nearly dragged the young couple into the hallway, where she shouted, ‘Annabelle! Lucy! Guess who’s here?’ She turned back to them then and helped Dotty to take her coat off. ‘It’s perfect timing,’ she told them gleefully. ‘Annabelle got home late last night and Lucy’s popped round to see her.’
    At that moment the two girls appeared in the drawing-room doorway and they too were thrilled to see her, although Dotty instantly noticed that Lucy didn’t look at all well.
    They all greeted each other fondly, hugging Robert too in welcome, then while Miranda hurried away to fetch some refreshments, Dotty asked, ‘Are you all right, Lucy? I think you’ve lost some weight and you’re awfully pale.’
    ‘I’m fine. It’s just these night shifts are taking some