Far From Home (15 page)

Kate was glad it was and wondered if the sirens were sounded out intentionally to jolt the country into a realization that this was what war meant. It certainly had that effect on her. For weeks the papers had been running articles on government directives, such as what to do in air raids and the like, and she had avoided them like the plague. One of them, however, David had drawn her attention to – it recommended filling a shelter bag with identity cards, insurance policies, and bank and post
office books and treasured photographs. Kate had agreed with David that it was a good idea, but she had  done nothing about it. Now she decided to remedy that as soon as possible. ‘My days of burying my head in the sand are over,' she told David as they got ready for bed that night. ‘We are at war and that will mean challenges for us all, I think. We must be ready to meet them.'

‘You don't have to,' David said. ‘Birmingham is likely to be a prime target, being such a big city. You could always go back to Ireland if you wanted to.'

‘No,' Kate said indignantly. ‘David, I am not a hothouse flower and I am going to stay here with everyone else. We can't all run away; if we tried to, who would run the country while all you men are away chasing Germans?'

‘All right, you win, you feisty lady,' David said, holding her close. ‘And I am proud of you for saying that, but I know that I shall worry about you just as much as you will about me.'

 

When Kate and Susie got off the tram the next day, Sally was waiting at the stop. ‘Anything wrong?' Kate asked her.

‘Not exactly.'

‘How not exactly?' Kate asked. ‘And why are you not at work for starters?'

‘Well, that's it,' said Sally. ‘I haven't got a job any more – none of us have.'

‘What are you on about?'

‘I'm trying to tell you,' Sally said. ‘The government have closed down all places of entertainment.'

‘All places?' Susie asked.

Sally nodded. ‘Everything, the boss said: cinemas, theatres, dance halls. Anywhere where large numbers of people gather. I don't think they're opening the schools either, not that that will worry the children, but it means I've lost my job.'

‘How long for?'

‘Dunno,' Sally said. ‘Could be for the duration, for all I know. It's all 'cos of the bombing.'

‘What bombing?' Susie said. ‘There hasn't been any bombing.'

‘I know, but they must think that it might start any minute,' Sally said. ‘If it doesn't, they might open again, but I can't wait around to see if that happens. I need another job. Ruby said to see you.'

‘There's nothing going at our place that I know of,' Susie said.

‘Not at the moment anyway,' Kate agreed. ‘There will be when the men are called up, but that hasn't happened yet.'

‘But we are at war,' Susie said. ‘So jobs should be easy to find.'

‘Yes, course they are,' Kate said. ‘Look, I'll pick the paper up on the way home and come round later tonight and we'll have a look.'

‘I'd rather come now if it's all the same to you,' Sally said. ‘I hate coming home in the dark in the blackout.'

‘Oh, God, yes,' Kate said. ‘I forgot about that. Come on now, then. See you tomorrow, Susie.'

‘Yeah, see you tomorrow, Kate,' Susie said with a wave to them both. ‘Best of luck, Sally.'

‘Thanks.'

‘You'll hardly need luck,' Kate said. ‘You help me get
the dinner on the go when we get in and then we can study the jobs.'

‘Will David be there?'

‘He might be,' Kate said. ‘He intended enlisting today, but he said he had to see his boss as well and see if he wants him to work notice and if so how much, so they might be discussing that after work.'

David wasn't in but came home as they were both poring over the jobs' section. Sally told him why she was looking for another job and he said, ‘Ah, what a shame, and you made a first-class usherette.'

Sally coloured slightly as she said, ‘Thanks. It was a great job, and though it wasn't that well paid, we did get tips sometimes, and if you threw in the cost of all those cinema tickets, it wasn't that bad really. But I suppose now me and Phil are engaged, I could do with earning more so I could save a bit.'

‘Well, all the war-related jobs pay the best,' Kate said. ‘And look, there's a new engineering works opened in Witton. That isn't far away – I should say there would be a variety of jobs you could do there.'

‘Yeah,' Sally said. ‘And I suppose I could be trained as well as anybody else.'

‘Course you could,' Kate said, leaping to her feet and dragging her sister with her. ‘Come on, that concoction in the pan – that passes for stew with a little imagination – is nearly ready if the smell is anything to go by. If I dish up now you'll be able to eat it and still be home before it's truly dark.'

‘I can't blame you for being nervous of the blackout,' David said. ‘And as the days shorten you'll be going out in the dark and coming home in the dark.'

‘I know,' Sally said. ‘Coming home from work on Saturday was bad enough.'

‘I can see accidents happening,' Kate said.

‘Don't suppose the dark will worry me where I shall be in a fortnight's time,' David said. ‘Darkness is often the friend of the pilot.'

‘You got in,' Kate said, feigning pleasure because she knew it was what David wanted, but he wasn't fooled and he slipped an arm around her as he said, ‘Yeah, 'fraid I did, old girl. At least, subject to a medical, I will be accepted for training at Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, which isn't a million miles away. Whether I will be passed as a pilot is another thing altogether, apparently, although it's the only thing I want to do. Then I would be part of the 605 Squadron. But, as the Commanding Officer said, all the young men want to fly, but there are other important jobs to do in the RAF.'

‘None of which you would consider?'

‘I don't think anyone has that much choice in the Forces,' David said. ‘They say jump and you jump. But I would hate to be behind a desk doing any job, however important, that could be done by one of the WAAFs just as easily.'

‘They don't get the chance to fly then?' Sally asked with a wry smile.

David returned the smile as he said, ‘Not to my knowledge, no, but the point is, there will be a job going at our place in a fortnight or so.' And he turned to Kate and said, ‘That's the notice I have to work, and I could definitely put a word in for Sally if she's not fixed up by then. There's plenty of work at the moment, because we're building transmitters as well as standard wirelesses.'

Sally wrinkled her nose. ‘Sounds awfully complicated.'

‘No, it isn't,' David assured her. ‘Honest, you'd soon pick it up.'

‘Thanks. David,' Sally said. ‘But I do need to get a job as soon as possible. Ruby is not well off and misses Phil's money, for all he sends her what he can every week. I need to be paying my share as soon as possible. The engineering works will probably suit me well enough.'

Kate told David that he owed it to his family to tell them what he had done. He wasn't keen, but agreed she had a point and they set off on Sunday afternoon.

‘It won't be any surprise to them anyway,' Kate said as they turned down the road. ‘You have made no secret of it. I wonder what branch of the services your brother will choose?'

‘Huh,' said David. ‘All Lawrence cares about most of the time is himself. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he tried to wriggle out of active service of any description.'

‘I don't think it is something that people can choose.'

‘No, nor do I, but if there is any kind of loophole you can bet that Lawrence will find it, aided and abetted by Dad, no doubt, because the two of them are like bosom pals.'

Kate saw that for herself just a little later. ‘Can't wait to play the conquering hero, can you?' Lawrence said sneeringly when David told them he had enlisted in the RAF.

David decided to let the remark pass and so he said pleasantly enough, ‘Well, it was only a matter of time, anyway, like it will be for you eventually.'

‘Maybe not.'

‘What you on about?' David said. ‘You registering yourself as a conscientious objector, or what?'

‘Oh, no need for all that unpleasantness,' Lawrence said with a supercilious drawl. ‘But there is a medical to pass.'

‘What of it?' David demanded. ‘You're as fit as I am.'

‘No, I'm not. I have problems with my chest.'

‘Since when?'

‘Since now,' Lawrence said. ‘Comes from years working in the intense heat – isn't that right, Dad?'

‘Are you party to this fabrication too?' David said, turning to his father.

Kate saw that Alf was embarrassed. ‘Well,' he said, ‘Lawrence could probably claim exemption anyway because he is in a reserved occupation. Almost all the brassworks are now making war-related goods. If he has a doctor's say-so about his bad chest, too, that will probably clinch it.'

‘A doctor will do that?' David asked incredulously.

‘Not the one we've used the few times we've needed one,' Alf admitted. ‘But there are some who'll do it if the price is right.'

David's mouth dropped open with surprise and shock and Kate too could scarcely believe what she was hearing. She glanced at David to see his face brick-red with anger and his eyes smouldering as he spat out: ‘You are despicable, both of you. And you have only got to look at Lawrence to see how fit he is. Women
are taking on men's roles now, so there is no need to try and claim exemption.'

‘Oh, I disagree with you, dear brother,' Lawrence said in his supercilious tone. ‘I think there is every reason.'

‘And you, Ma, are you are party to this fantasy?' David demanded, turning to face his mother.

Dora was embarrassed and couldn't meet David's eyes, bending her head as she mumbled, ‘Isn't it enough of a sacrifice to risk the life of one son?'

‘Don't give me that,' David spat out. ‘None of you give a tuppenny damn for the life of this son. This whole plan has been hatched to keep lily-livered Lawrence safe.'

Before any of them could find an answer to this, Lawrence gave a smug smile and said to David, ‘Look on the bright side, our kid. This way I'll be able to keep an eye on your pretty young wife.'

David's fists were balled and Kate felt him taut beside her, like a tiger waiting to spring. She felt blisteringly angry as she snapped out, ‘No, you will not, Lawrence Burton. You turn up at my door and I will show you that quick enough.'

‘Ooh, Miss Hoity-Toity,' Lawrence said.

‘Not at all,' Kate said in a voice as cold as steel. ‘I'm just particular about the company I keep.'

‘Hey,' said Dora. ‘There's no need to talk to our Lawrence like that.'

All Kate's life she had been taught respect for her elders, but so incensed was she now that she barked back at Dora, ‘There is every need, and if you can't see that then there is something radically wrong with you.'

Dora was stunned, but before she could think up a
reply Kate turned to David and said, ‘Shall we go? We have done what we came to do.'

David too had been amazed by the way Kate had handled both Lawrence and his mother and he got to his feet as he said, ‘Yes, I'll be glad to go. The air round here stinks.'

Outside in the street, he began to smile ruefully, but it had turned into a chuckle before Kate noticed because she still felt upset. Eventually, she said, ‘All right, what's so blinking funny?'

‘You are,' David said. ‘I don't think anyone has ever spoken to Lawrence like that before.'

‘I meant every word,' Kate said. ‘If he comes near me I will brain him with the nearest thing to hand, but maybe I shouldn't have spoken to your mother the way I did.'

‘You were perfectly right,' David said. ‘My parents are as bad condoning Lawrence doing this, and what my dear brother said to you was totally unacceptable. I wanted to smash his face in, if you want the truth.'

‘I know,' Kate said. ‘I could feel the rage running through you. I told you, I can deal with men like Lawrence.'

‘You've convinced me, you very special lady,' David said.

Kate was glad that David was reassured because really the encounter had disturbed her. She told Susie about it the following morning as they made their way to work. Susie felt, like David, that she had been quite justified in what she had said and she was horrified at Lawrence trying to wriggle out of fighting for his country.

‘You could report them for that, I should think,' she said.

‘Probably,' Kate said. ‘That would mean David shopping his own parents though, and this doctor chap as well.'

‘A doctor like that needs shopping,' Susie said angrily.

‘I feel the same way,' Kate said. ‘But doctors are important people, aren't they? People listen to them and take note of what they say. If David was to speak out against one of them, it could cause a heap of trouble for him, and if anything stopped him going into the RAF, he would be destroyed – that's all he's talked about since the possibility of us going to war was spoken about.'

‘And Nick too,' Susie said. ‘And you're right. Things like that do happen. David could find himself tainted just because he is Lawrence's brother.'

‘Exactly, so that's why we are keeping it to ourselves,' Kate said. ‘So don't say anything to the others.'

‘You know I can keep things close to my chest if I have to,' Susie said. ‘But you have nothing to be ashamed about.'

‘I know, but I don't even want to be related by marriage to someone so cowardly,' Kate said.

Susie said nothing for minute or two because she knew how Kate felt. She couldn't blame her because she knew she would feel much the same. Finally, she burst out, ‘I know what you're saying, Kate, but I think it's not flipping well fair.'

Kate shrugged. ‘Don't suppose it is, but no one ever promised us a fair deal and this war might not be fair to many people, I wouldn't have thought. But let's not
bother talking about Lawrence Burton any more – he's not worth wasting our breath on.

 

That last week sped by and Kate often wished she had the power to stop time so that she could enjoy the company of her new husband a little longer. Susie felt the same way about Nick, and what made it worse was that there was little to take their minds off what lay ahead because the cinemas, theatres and dance halls remained closed. Not that these would have been easy to go out to with the blackout as intense as it was. It was no pleasure going anywhere much. Getting home from work was usually enough of an ordeal and people tended to stay put in the evenings.

Never had Kate been more grateful that they had the wireless. She loved cuddling up to David on the sofa, enjoying the plays and comedy programmes and concerts. There was also news on the hour, which they both listened to avidly. Kate began to wonder how she had managed so long without such a source of entertainment and information. She now always brought a paper home and David would devour this each evening and read her out snippets from it as she prepared the evening meal. It wasn't hard to read it all so quickly given that, since war had been declared, in an effort to save paper, the newspapers were only about four sheets of extremely small print, so the more in-depth news on the wireless was even more important.

Many of the women and girls Kate and Susie worked with were also worried about their men folk. The initial call-up of lads aged twenty and twenty-one that had begun in April meant more than a few of the girls
had  boyfriends in the Forces like Sally had, and others had husbands, sons or brothers, either awaiting their own call-up, or who had enlisted on the declaration of war. It was only a matter of time, everyone knew, until they were all conscripted. Kate thought that Birmingham would be a very strange place when, along with other cities, it would be denuded of all their young, fit men.

‘Good job we have a job of work to go to, that's all I can say,' Kate said to Susie as they sat on the tram on their way home through the deepening dusk. It was the Friday before David and Nick had to report to the aerodrome. ‘I'd go mad in the flat all day, especially after David leaves tomorrow.'

‘Oh, I'll say,' Susie said. ‘I'd like to think if they both make it as pilots, they can look out for each other.'

Kate shook her head. ‘It would be lovely to imagine that might happen,' she said. ‘But I really think that when they are in those planes it's every man for himself.'

‘I suppose,' Susie agreed. ‘And I do wish that Mom and Dad had let Nick and I get married. I know now why you two did, because before he goes to face God-alone-knows-what, I really want to love Nick properly, you know?'

Oh, Kate knew all right. She and David were both aware of the short time they had together, and so their passion rose quickly and their lovemaking was even better. And after the rapturous loving was over, she would feel blissfully satiated and utterly, utterly content. Remembering it now she was glad the dark morning hid the crimson flush on her cheeks. ‘Last night we nearly … Well, you know what I mean?' Susie went
on. ‘It isn't always easy to say no, especially when you don't want to.'

‘I know that only too well.'

‘In the end, I got scared,' Susie said. ‘What if I was to get pregnant? I couldn't do that to Mom and Dad, but God it was hard.'

Kate felt sorry for her friend, but she had done the right thing – for an unmarried girl to become pregnant was a terrible disgrace. Maybe people's attitudes in Birmingham were not as bad as those in Ireland, but they were still bad enough, and the shame of it impinged on the whole family. ‘If you feel that strongly you ought to stand up to your parents,' she said.

‘Bit late now.'

‘No, it isn't,' Kate insisted. ‘Nick and David will both have leave when their training is finished and you can arrange special licences to get married quick. You can't have the big church wedding though. There won't be time.'

‘That will upset my mother,' Susie said. ‘And then, as I told you, she is very anti wartime marriages.'

Kate saw her friend biting on her bottom lip as she did when she was disturbed about something or other and she said gently, ‘I am very fond of your parents; I wouldn't hurt them for the world and I know you feel the same way. Your mother is only saying this about wartime marriages because she wants to save you from heartache. And most parents, and brides if asked, will say that ideally they would like the big white wedding. But we are adults now, and no one can protect us from sorrow and loss. It isn't ever an ideal world and now we are at war as well, normal rules don't apply.'

‘You think we should just do it, don't you?'

‘It doesn't matter what I think,' Kate said. ‘This doesn't concern me and all I want you to do is follow your heart. And remember that this is your life and to live as an independent person or couple means that sometimes you might have to go against what your parents want and ignore their advice.'

Susie didn't speak for a moment and then she said, ‘And when are you going to tell your parents about your marriage, Kate?'

‘I dread doing that, to be honest,' Kate said. ‘But now David has enlisted I can say that, though we wanted to get married in the normal way, he was called up and we were married by that special licence I told you about, because there was no time to do anything else. And I will promise my mother that we will have the marriage blessed in church when we can.'

‘Will she be all right about that?'

Kate shrugged. ‘I don't know,' she said. ‘Probably not, but it's the best I can do. Maybe then I can start going back to church.'

‘Don't you go now then?'

‘No,' Kate said. ‘I told Sally I went to an earlier Mass, since we always used to go together, but now she knows that's not true because Father Patterson collared her last week and asked her if I was sick.'

‘What did she say?'

‘She's a quick thinker, Sally,' Kate said. ‘And she would never knowingly drop me in it, so she said I had a really bad cold, but then she came round on the way home to find out what was wrong. I promised I would start to go again – that will be easier when David is away. I
was enjoying our Sunday morning cuddles too much to get up and scurry along to Mass. I valued our time together because I knew it was limited.'

‘Anyone would understand that.'

‘Yes, anyone but a Catholic priest.'

‘Yeah, they do seem to be a law unto themselves,' Susie said. ‘And often have a set of values at variance with everyone else's.'

The tram pulled up at their stop and they had alighted before Kate said, ‘There was another reason, too, why I felt awkward going to church after getting married in the register office. I mean, he won't recognize my marriage, will he?'