Home Front Girls

was delicious.
    ‘I don’t think I shall be able to eat another thing for at least a month,’ Dotty declared as she rubbed her full stomach.
    Miss Timms smiled, making her appear years younger. ‘I’m rather full too,’ she beamed. ‘But now I’m afraid I shall have to love you and leave you. I’ve left our neighbour with Mother, and no doubt the dear soul will be tearing her hair out by the roots by now. I’m afraid Mother isn’t the easiest of patients.’
    She insisted on paying the bill, and once outside she asked, ‘Will you be all right getting home by yourself, dear?’
    ‘Of course. You get off, I shall be fine, and thanks for the treat,’ Dotty answered as she leaned forward to kiss the woman on the cheek.
    The woman raised her hand and touched the spot that Dotty had kissed and a wave of tenderness shot through the girl. Miss Timms really was so kind and Dotty knew that she owed her a lot. Without Miss Timms her childhood would have been very lonely and sad. She watched the woman stride away, her back as straight as a broom handle, and then she hurried off to the stationer’s, which was open until 7 p.m., to get some more ribbons for her typewriter. She just prayed that Mrs Cousins wouldn’t want her to babysit tonight as she hoped to get some serious writing done.
     
    Lucy arrived home to find a wonderful surprise waiting for her. It was a letter from Joel; albeit short and heavily censored, it helped her to believe that he was still safe. Or at least he had been when he wrote the letter, which she saw was well over a month ago. Without even waiting to take her cardigan off she sat down to read it, and as she saw his dear familiar writing he suddenly seemed a little closer.
     
Dear Lucy,
     
I hope you, Mother and Mary are all well. I am bearing up although I miss you all terribly. I am now in Dunkirk, (she only just managed to decipher this word as that and the next couple of lines had been blanked out, but then he went on), things are pretty grim here but try not to worry, one day we’ll all be together again and we’ll try and put this blasted war behind us. Old Hitler has a lot to answer for and the conditions we are living in are pretty harsh, but then it can’t go on forever, can it? Will you remember me to Mr and Mrs P and give Mary and Mum a big kiss from me and tell them that I think about them all the time. It’s only the thought of coming home that keeps us lads going. I have written to Belle too and will write again to you both as soon as I can. Till then look after yourselves.
     
Love,
     
Joel x
     
    Annabelle also received a letter saying much the same and it threw her into a complete muddle.
     
My dear Belle,
     
I am hoping this letter will reach you as I may not be able to write again for some time. Me and the other chaps are going to the front tomorrow and who knows what might happen? I never realised what it would be like to have to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger but it’s a case of kill or be killed. May God forgive me. I can’t help but think that some of the Germans are probably only here because they have to be, like our lads, and the thought doesn’t make it any easier. They are all someone’s son, boyfriend, brother or husband after all, aren’t they? I am sorry to be so morbid but I can’t write my feelings to Lucy, she has enough on her plate. Bless her. You will keep an eye out for her if anything should happen to me won’t you? I know this is a lot to ask but I feel that you, Lucy and Dotty have grown to be very close and she may have need of your friendship in the days ahead.
We are living in tents at the moment and the food is atrocious. If I come home I intend to take us all out for a slapup meal! They are setting up the Army medical tents tonight for those that will no doubt be injured tomorrow and it’s a daunting sight as you can imagine.
Anyway, that’s enough from me. Stay safe, pray for me and know that I am thinking of you too.
     
With much love
     
Joel x
     
    Annabelle shuddered as she folded the sheet of paper and pictured the conditions that Joel must be living in and what was before him. His life was in God’s hands now and she could only pray that he would survive to return home.
    Recently she had been able to push him to the back of her mind, but now she was forced to think of him again and she found herself wondering if their friendship might have turned into something more had he been able to stay around. In a