Under the Apple Tree Read Online Free

clothes, and there might even
    be a bit of money to help get straight again. It’s not that we
    want charity,’ Judy said earnestly, ‘but we’ve lost everything, and there’s the electricity bill to pay, and—’
    ‘Well, all that will be sorted out. And will you be staying
    with your grandmother in Copnor?’
    ‘Yes. She lives in April Grove, off September Street.’
    ‘I know where you mean. So at least you’ve got somewhere
    to go tonight?’
    ‘Yes. That’s why I thought I ought to come down and see
    what’s happening here.’ Judy sniffed and blew her nose
    again. ‘Only it took such a long time getting through the
    streets, and I know I’m ever so late …’
    ‘For heaven’s sake, girl, don’t apologise for being late. I’m
    amazed you came at all. Now listen, the Lord Mayor’s
    arranging to take over part of the Royal Beach Hotel at
    Southsea to use as offices - it was closed when the war
    started and is already being used as a casualty clearing
    station - so that’s where you’ll be reporting for work. It’s
    the ARP who have relocated to Cosham. As you’ve seen,
    selves who have lost everything - he’s managed to find a bank that’s open for business and they’ve released a
    substantial sum of money for the Air-Raid Distress Fund, so
    that people can be given some ready cash. The War
    Emergency Committee will divide it between all their
    members so that it can be distributed. They’ll also be
    evacuating any homeless women or children who want to
    leave the city and, as you know, Emergency Centres have
    been set up in schools and church halls.’
    ‘Yes, that’s where Mum and Dad went,’ Judy nodded.
    ‘And you remember the Lady Mayoress set up her own
    Clothing Fund at the beginning of the war, so there will, we
    hope, be enough clothes to give everyone at least one warm
    outfit.’ Her glance took in Judy’s own shabby attire. ‘I
    suppose that’s all you have yourself now?’
    Judy said glumly, ‘I’m afraid it is, Miss Marsh. They’re
    my oldest things, I always change into them, to keep my
    work clothes nice, and when the siren went—’
    ‘Well, I wouldn’t expect you to be dressed in your best
    for an air raid!’ The supervisor’s face broke into a rare smile.
    ‘Now, you’re not to worry about that. Come to work in
    whatever you can find. But today, I think you ought to go
    back and help your family.’
    ‘Oh no! I mean, I ought to be at work - there must be so
    much to do. And there isn’t really anything I can do at home
    - at Gran’s, I mean -‘ To her horror, she felt the tears
    gather in her eyes again and blinked them away furiously.
    ‘I’d much rather be doing something useful, Miss Marsh.’
    The supervisor looked at her consideringly. ‘Very well,
    then. But you don’t have to come all the way out to
    Southsea, not today. What you can do is stay here and look
    out for any other Guildhall or Municipal staff like yourself,
    who come down to find out what’s happening. Tell them to
    report to the Royal Beach.’ She sighed. ‘We still don’t know
    who is likely to turn up and who isn’t. There may be others
    who’ve been bombed out, or even hurt in the raids. But those who can, will surely do as you did and come here.
    Now, do you think you can do that? You know everyone,
    don’t you?’ She held out her notebook. ‘Write down the
    names of all the people you see.’
    Judy nodded. ‘I can do that, Miss Marsh.’
    ‘Good. That enables me to go out to the hotel and get on
    with the work there. We’re having to start completely from
    scratch. Now, Judy, when you’re sure you’ve seen everyone
    - everyone who comes here, that is - you’re to go back to
    your grandmother’s and be with your family. You’ve had a
    dreadful time and you must be exhausted.’
    ‘We didn’t get much sleep last night, but I don’t really
    feel tired, Miss Marsh - just sort of light, if you know what
    I mean.’ Judy put her hand to her forehead and