Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys Read Online Free Page A

know, I quite like him when he looks stern,’ Dolly said.
    ‘And you, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes,’ Emmy prodded May, ‘don’t rush to get down the basement so quick next time! We’re trying to string it out. All the time we’re on the drill we’re not hanging hides!’
    ‘But I’ll tell you something for nothing,’ said Dolly. ‘I’ve seen the way that Bill looks at you, May...’ She nodded her head sagely.
    ‘Don’t be daft, Dolly. I’ve not said two words to him!’
    Yet later that night when Bill took his place at the piano, she saw him glance her way, and during his break he made a point of coming over to them. He’d obviously forgiven Emmy and Dolly for their earlier teasing. He sat at their table, drinking his pint and chatting easily to her friends, but May noticed that more often than not his ocean-blue eyes were fixed on her.
    ‘“Happy Days”?’ he asked her, before returning to the piano.
    She suspected that Saturday nights at the Red Cow would become a regular thing from now on.
    *
    May might be spreading her wings, but at heart she was still a home bird and as the phoney war limped on towards Christmas she found herself increasingly drawn into her mother’s worries about Jack.
    One night towards Christmas, she and Mrs Lloyd had spent the evening trying to make a Christmas pudding with a laughable amount of dried fruit and nuts. They’d made five puddings last year to give away, but this year there was barely enough for one. After snipping dates with scissors as small as they could and chopping almonds to a pale dust, grating a small lump of suet and a single orange peel, they were ready to give the mixture its magic stir. May made her own wish and then watched as her mother shut her eyes tight to make hers. With her expression unguarded, May saw for the first time how these early months of the war had changed her mother. She already looked defeated and when she opened her eyes, May saw they were brimming.
    ‘Was your wish for Jack?’ she asked softly, taking the wooden spoon from her mother’s hand.
    ‘I’m worried sick, love. I think he’s getting himself in with a bad bunch. He comes in all hours, and where’s he getting the money to take Joycie out? Over the West End and gawd knows where.’ Her mother rubbed her forehead and sat down. ‘Sometimes I don’t know which I’m more worried about, him going in the army or the villains he’s mixing with.’
    ‘Villains? Mum, you’re getting in a state over nothing. Jack’s either out with Joycie, or it’s Norman he’s with… and he’s harmless enough.’ She put an arm round her mother. ‘It’s just the war that’s got us all up the wall.’
    ‘I’m sorry, love, I shouldn’t be putting it on your shoulders. Your brother’s old enough to look after himself.’
    Mrs Lloyd pushed herself up from the chair just as Jack walked in.
    ‘Mum! Come ’ere!’ It was Jack’s custom to greet his mother with a bear hug, and not release her till she begged to be let go. It amused him no end, and May knew no matter how much her mother slapped him away, she loved it too. But now, Mrs Lloyd had no energy to resist and Jack pulled away first.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ He looked to May for an answer, but she shook her head.
    ‘Just tired, son. I’m off to bed.’
    Kissing him on the forehead, Mrs Lloyd walked heavily upstairs to her bedroom.
    ‘Blimey, what’s the matter with her?’ Jack asked, his ebullience all gone.
    May found herself irritated at Jack’s incomprehension. ‘Don’t you know? She’s worried about you!’
    ‘Me? Why? Because I’ll be getting called up?’
    May sighed. ‘That, and… she thinks you’re nicking stuff from the docks.’
    ‘Oh.’ He was silent for a moment.
    ‘So, does that mean you are?’
    A cloud passed over his normal sunny features. ‘No! ’Course not.’ He hesitated. ‘But… promise not to say nothing?’
    May nodded. ‘I’ve been helping George out a bit.’
    May couldn’t think