Home Front Girls

automobile business. Sales boomed in the 1920s and by scrimping and saving, Richard eventually managed to buy the garage from the old gentleman who had trained him.
    The start of this war, a mere twenty-one years after the ‘War to end all Wars’, was causing sales to drop off alarmingly due to petrol rationing and, as far as he was concerned, it was time for them all to pull their belts in – especially Annabelle. Money dripped through that one’s fingers like water, which was why he had ordered his wife to have words with her.
    Miranda had been very good about it and was happy to let the charlady and daily help go and to tackle the chores herself, even though she had never had to do so before. But then she had a totally different nature from Annabelle – kind and thoughtful despite having enjoyed a very privileged upbringing. Richard could still remember the look of horror on Mrs Hamilton Gower’s face when Miranda had first introduced him to her. At that time, he had just bought the business and was painfully aware that he, with his oilstained hands, was not at all the sort of chap Miranda’s parents had planned for her. Even so, because he was their daughter’s choice they had grudgingly accepted him, and that had spurred him on to work even harder to prove to them that he could give her the sort of lifestyle she was accustomed to. He had even changed his name from Smith to Smythe as Miranda’s mother felt it had a better ring to it. He had known that what she really meant was that Smith was too ‘common’ for her daughter, but eager to be accepted, he had gone along with it.
    They had married eventually and the wedding had been a lavish affair paid for by the bride’s father. The newly-weds had been ecstatically happy and planned to have a large family straight away, but then years of heartache had followed as Miranda sobbed each month when she found that she was not pregnant. At last, after five long years, Annabelle had come along – and finally Richard could do no wrong; his in-laws had even come to admire him, especially as his business grew and they saw that he genuinely loved their daughter. Sadly, Annabelle was destined to be their only child, so she had been shamelessly spoiled by both her parents and grandparents. But now all that was going to have to stop. Things were, in fact, even worse than Miranda knew. Richard had tried to keep the bad news from his wife for as long as possible, but now it was time to make some serious economies or he could see them losing not only his business but the house as well – and then where would they be?
    ‘Try not to worry too much, darling,’ his wife said softly. ‘This war cannot last forever and Annabelle will survive. She might even enjoy working, once she gets used to it. She is often very bored stuck at home when she has nothing to entertain her, and at least she can look around for a job that she wants to do. Most girls her age are working in munitions factories now.’
    ‘Hm, well, I’d like to think you’re right – but I can’t see it myself,’ he replied glumly as she took his glass and went to refill it.
    Miranda handed him the glass back and then they both sat down on the velvet upholstered settee as they waited for Annabelle to put in an appearance, which they were confident she would, given time.
     
    Half an hour later, Annabelle breezed into the room in a waft of expensive French perfume, looking as if she had just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine. She was wearing the outfit that she had bought the day before – a very pretty red pleated cocktail dress that was cinched in at the waist by a broad belt, which showed off her slim figure. On her feet were her new high-heeled court shoes, and her face was made up to perfection.
    ‘How do I look then? Do I pass muster, Daddy?’ She twirled in front of him before bending to plant a kiss on his cheek. A little display of affection never usually failed to melt him; he was like putty in her hands. But she was quick to note this wasn’t the case tonight.
    Frowning slightly, he eyed her up and down before asking, ‘And how did you manage to buy all this, miss?’
    ‘With my allowance, of course. At the moment there are still some nice outfits in the shops, but once these stupid clothes coupons come into force there will be nothing decent left to buy,’ she answered, trying not to sound resentful. ‘How are we expected to look smart if we can’t just go out and buy