Home Front Girls

wi’ blood after some o’ the battles. Ee, the Jerries are pickin’ our lads off like flies.’
    Lucy and Mrs P shuddered simultaneously as they pictured the heaving seas full of the dead and dying men who would never see their families again. It was too awful to contemplate.
    ‘Coventry and London ain’t the only cities bein’ targeted now either,’ he went on gravely. ‘The Jerries have bombed Southampton, Liverpool, Bristol, Portsmouth an’ Birmingham an’ all now, an’ they reckon folks are leavin’ all the major cities in droves, pushin’ what’s left o’ their belongings in old prams, wheelbarrows – anythin’! Yet Churchill still reckons we’ll beat the buggers! I think it’s only his optimism that’s keepin’ the country’s spirits up.’
    ‘Let’s just hope as he’s right then,’ Mrs P muttered, but then she forced a smile as she changed the subject and told Lucy, ‘This chap ’ere ’as been as good as gold. I ain’t known I’ve had him. But he’s pleased to see you – look. If his tail wags any faster it’ll be in danger o’ fallin’ off.’
    Lucy bent down to hug Harry and was rewarded with a licking.
    ‘He’s set me to thinkin’ that perhaps we should get another dog,’ Mrs P said musingly and her husband glanced up in surprise.
    ‘But I thought yer said yer’d never have another pet after we lost Prince?’
    ‘Happen I did,’ she admitted sheepishly. ‘But that was then an’ this is now, an’ God knows there’s enough strays needin’ a good home.’ She patted Harry affectionately. ‘Back then when we lost Prince I had the little ’uns to run around after an’ keep me busy,’ she told him matter-of-factly. ‘But the truth o’ the matter is, I get lonely now wi’ our Barry and Beryl gettin’ up to Gawd knows what in the country, an’ our Freddy . . .’ She gulped before going on. ‘Anyway, wi’ you two at work all day I’ve no one to talk to so maybe I’ve changed me mind.’
    ‘Well, they do say as that’s a lady’s prerogative,’ Fred teased. ‘An’ if you’ve a mind to get another dog I’ll not stand in yer way. Happen he’ll be good company fer this ’un here.’
    Lucy smiled as she headed for the door, saying, ‘I’m off then, and thanks for having Harry for me. Let’s hope we get a good night’s sleep tonight, eh?’ And thankfully they did and all got up feeling a lot better for it the next morning.
     
    That same evening, as Annabelle arrived home from work she was surprised to find her mother walking around the house with a stranger, an elderly gentleman, showing him into the rooms.
    ‘Oh, hello darling. You’re early.’ Miranda appeared flustered as she told her, ‘Go and have a cup of tea – there’s plenty left in the pot. Mr Buxton will be leaving shortly and then I’ll join you.’
    Annabelle went off to do as she was told, wondering what was going on.
    It was fifteen minutes later before her mother joined her and she asked bluntly, ‘So what was that all about then? Why were you showing that chap around the house?’
    Annabelle had removed her make-up and was smoothing Pond’s cold cream across her face at the kitchen table, a habit her mother abhorred, but just this once Miranda chose to ignore it as she told her, ‘I’m afraid there is something I need to speak to you about. The truth is, I’ve been putting it off because I don’t think you’re going to be too pleased about it. But the long and the short of the matter is . . . Mr Buxton is an estate agent. I’m going to sell the house.’
    ‘You’re going to what?’ Annabelle was completely flabbergasted. ‘But why? This is our home! I can’t remember ever having lived anywhere else and I don’t want to move.’
    ‘Neither do I,’ Miranda answered as tears welled in her eyes. ‘But I’m afraid we don’t have much choice any more, darling. Times are hard for everyone and the money your father left us to manage on is dwindling rapidly.’ She spread her hands as she looked around her beautiful home, each room furnished and decorated with love and care over the years. ‘The trouble is, it’s such a huge house to keep. The heating bill alone is astronomical, which is why I don’t light the fires in all the rooms any more. And I’d rather sell it now than wait until we have to, and then accept some ridiculous offer – if we can, that is. According to Mr Buxton, properties aren’t selling well at all at the moment! So if it doesn’t