Home Front Girls

counts.’
    So Dotty hurried away and then handed a small parcel to the woman, who opened it with a look of pure delight on her face. I bet she doesn’t get many people buying her presents, Dotty thought, and it saddened her.
    Miss Timms showed much the same reaction as Dotty had when the gift was finally opened. Dotty had bought her a pure silk headscarf in lovely autumn colours. It looked very bright and colourful against the drab clothes that the woman was wearing, but she seemed to be over the moon with it.
    ‘Why, it’s gorgeous .’ She ran her hand across the smooth silk with a look of pure pleasure on her face. ‘I must admit I would never have chosen it for myself, since Mother doesn’t like me wearing flamboyant colours, but I really love it. Thank you so much!’
    Dotty then handed over her last gift, saying, ‘I er . . . made this skirt for you myself. I had to guess the size, so I hope it fits. I’m not the best seamstress in the world, I’m afraid, so I won’t be offended if you don’t want to wear it.’
    Intrigued, Miss Timms opened the parcel and then her face lit up again. ‘ You made this?’ she said incredulously. ‘Why, Dotty, is there no end to your talents? I really love it and I shall wear it for church tomorrow with my very best blouse.’
    Suddenly Dotty leaned over and pecked her on the cheek and the woman flushed to the very roots of her hair and became all flustered. And then they both laughed and the awkward moment was gone. Miss Timms stayed for another hour, periodically reaching out to stroke the scarf and the skirt, and when she left, Dotty had a warm glow in the pit of her stomach. Bless her, she thought happily. My childhood would have been a lot sadder, had it not been for Miss Timms. She then settled down in front of the little fire and after carefully filling her lovely new pen from a bottle of Quink, she soon became lost in the latest story she was writing. She was attempting her first novel now and loving every minute of it.

Chapter Eleven
     
    On Christmas Day bright and early Dotty wrapped up warmly and cycled to Lucy’s house on the bike she had borrowed from one of the neighbours. It was no mean feat on the icy roads. Every time she came to a hill she had to get off and push the bike up it, and by the time she reached Lucy’s home her cheeks were bright red and her fingers were so cold they had turned blue even though she was wearing mittens. She wheeled her bike up the entry and into the little yard at the back as Lucy opened the back door with a smile on her face.
    ‘I was hoping you’d come early,’ she greeted her. ‘You must have heard the kettle boil – I’ve just made a brew. Come on in out of the cold!’
    Dotty gratefully did as she was told to find Mary playing on the rug in front of the fire with a new teddy that Lucy had bought her. Even though she had already bought the child her new clothes, she had purchased the teddy bear from the toy department at the last minute and Mary had barely put it down. She was muttering away to it but none of the sounds made sense, and once again Dotty thought what a shame it was that such a beautiful child should be so afflicted. There was a delicious smell issuing from the oven and she sniffed appreciatively.
    ‘Hm, something smells good. Is that a turkey in there?’
    ‘It is indeed,’ Lucy chuckled as Dotty took her coat off. ‘ And we’ve got Brussels sprouts, stuffing, roast potatoes and all the trimmings to go with it. I decided to push the boat out. After all, once the rationing comes in, we might be on bread and water.’
    They exchanged gifts. Lucy had bought Dotty a pair of woollen gloves and a matching scarf in a deep amber colour. It was very bright compared to the drab colours that Dotty usually favoured, but she blushed with pleasure all the same when she opened the parcel. She had bought Lucy a cardigan in a wonderful emerald green that matched her eyes to perfection, and a beautifully illustrated book of fairy stories for Mary – two perfect presents. The friends hugged each other.
    Christmas dinner was great fun. The girls giggled and gossiped, and made sure that Mary had plenty to eat. But Dotty sensed that behind Lucy’s smile, she was missing her brother very much. Brother and sister had apparently never spent a Christmas apart before, and it must be hard for her, Dotty thought.
    Once the meal was over and the table cleared, Lucy made the fire up and they turned the wireless on to