Home Front Girls

that,’ Mrs P declared. ‘He can come round here an’ spend the whole day wi’ me when you’re out an’ about. We can keep each other company.’
    ‘I was hoping you’d say that,’ Lucy grinned and it was so nice to see her smile that Mrs P felt a lump form in her throat. ‘But now I’d better get His Lordship here round to his new home and get him settled in. Bye for now.’
    Mrs P watched her cross the yard and said to her husband, ‘Life’s a funny thing at times, ain’t it, Fred?’
    ‘It is that, Glad,’ he agreed quietly, as a picture of Mary and their Freddy flashed before his eyes.
    Next door, Lucy dragged a wooden packing crate from the cupboard under the stairs. She had already sorted out an old warm blanket, and once she’d tucked it into the crate she was satisfied that it would make a very comfortable bed for her new friend. She then selected two deep dishes from the kitchen cupboard, one for his food and one for water.
    ‘There you are, Harry,’ she told him. ‘We’ll soon have you done and dusted now.’ He wagged his tail as if he could understand every word she said, and she suddenly realised that she hadn’t minded coming home tonight for the first time in ages. The house felt more like a home again now, and it was all thanks to Harry.
    ‘Cooee!’ Mrs P shouted as she puffed into Lucy’s kitchen half an hour later. ‘I got to thinkin’ after you’d gone and realised that I still had these.’ She held out a collar and lead, saying, ‘They were my Prince’s an’ I couldn’t bring meself to get rid of ’em when we lost him. Lookin’ at Harry, the collar should fit a treat.’
    ‘But are you quite sure you want to part with them, Mrs P?’ Lucy asked doubtfully. She knew how much Mrs P had loved her dog and how devastated she had been when he died.
    Her neighbour nodded. ‘I’m quite sure, luvvie. They’re only lyin’ in a drawer an’ it will be nice to see ’em bein’ used again.’
    ‘Then thank you very much,’ Lucy said gratefully as she took them from her and tried the collar on Harry. It did indeed fit very well and he wagged his tail as if in appreciation.
    ‘I reckon he were well loved at some time,’ Mrs P said then. ‘He’s such a lovely-natured dog he must have been well treated.’
    They both became solemn then as they each thought of the circumstances that might have led to him becoming a stray. Perhaps his family home had been destroyed in one of the raids? It was a sobering thought, but not wishing to spoil Lucy’s happy mood the older woman commented, ‘At least all’s well that ends well – in his case, anyway. But now I’m goin’ to leave you two to bond.’ Even as the words were being spoken, Harry dropped his head into Lucy’s lap and Mrs P chuckled. ‘I take that back. Looks to me like he already has. G’night, love.’
    Lucy stroked him lovingly, wondering if perhaps she shouldn’t let him sleep in her room that night. He was in a strange place, after all, and she didn’t want him to feel lonely. The decision was taken out of her hands when the sirens began to wail just as she was preparing for bed. ‘Oh not again!’ she groaned, wondering how much longer it might be before they could all get an unbroken night’s sleep.
    ‘Come on, Harry,’ she encouraged. ‘Looks like it’s the shelter again tonight.’
    As she stepped out into the yard she almost collided with Mr and Mrs P who were just coming out of their back door. Mrs P had her metal curlers in and was clutching a rubber hot-water bottle. Mr P was in a string vest with his braces dangling around his backside.
    ‘Bloody Jerries,’ the older woman complained as enemy planes sounded in the distance. They all looked up at the sky and saw a darker mass zooming towards them in the distance. The sky lit up with searchlights and Mrs P hurried them all towards the shelter now as the drone of the planes became a roar.
    ‘Looks like some more poor sods are in fer it tonight,’ she said.
    Mr P had barely closed the door behind them when the Bofors guns and the ack-acks growled into life and Mrs P wrapped her faded old dressing-gown more tightly about her. Harry shrank against Lucy’s leg and she stroked him gently.
    ‘It’s all right, boy,’ she soothed him. ‘You’re quite safe in here with us.’ And then they all settled back, trying to close their ears to the deafening explosions going on all around them.

Chapter Twenty-Four
     
    ‘Oh Lord, I’m so