Wishes and Tears Read Online Free Page B

them names. That upset Janet but Freda told her they didn’t know what they were shouting out, it was only what their parents had told them to say.
    Janet put her scarf round her neck, pulled her hat on and, gathering up her gloves, hurried down the stairs. She didn’t want to be late.
    â€˜Miss Slater, don’t run. If you fall and injure that child some poor parents will be deprived,’ Sister Verity called out.
    Janet stood with her mouth open. There wasn’t any worry about her falling, just as long as her baby was all right for someone else.
    Freda grabbed Janet’s arm and almost frogmarched her out of the door. ‘Just don’t say a word,’ she hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
    They were at the back of the line with Sister Verity behind them as they were marched in pairs to the church. Janet felt so humiliated as people stood and stared, then whispered amongst themselves. In the church Sister James, a short, round nun with pale blue eyes and a flushed face, ushered them into the two back pews.
    As soon as the service was over and the large door opened, the girls were very quickly moved out and sent scurrying along the road. Nobody was allowed to speak to them.
    â€˜This happens every Sunday,’ said Freda. ‘Reckon we’ve got a sign on our heads saying “Unclean”. Treated like lepers, we are. Sometimes I feel like shouting out that what we’ve got ain’t catching unless you’re up to no good.’ She laughed. ‘Come on, cheer up. You’ll get used to it.’
    Janet smiled, though she didn’t think she would get used to it, but then her time at the home wasn’t going to last for ever.

    The weeks went by very quickly and Janet had had only two letters from her mother. They didn’t tell her much, just news about the people in the village, those that had died or given birth, or were getting married.
    Janet was shown how to make booties and mittens. She enjoyed this, but couldn’t believe babies could be so small as to fit into the tiny garments. She saw Dr Winter every week and her pregnancy appeared to be progressing normally. She went to the exercise sessions and had lessons on how to breathe when she was in labour.
    As one girl left so a new one arrived. As soon as Janet got to know someone, it seemed she was off. She was dreading the time when Freda would be going.
    It was approaching Christmas, and they were busy making paper-chains when Janet told Freda her fears.
    â€˜You are daft. You’ll be all right. ’Sides, mine ain’t due till the end of January and yours is the beginning of March so it’ll only be for a couple of weeks. Look, I’m really beginning to show now.’ Freda stood up and, resting her hands in the middle of her back, stuck her stomach out, determined to look like the rest of them.
    Janet laughed. ‘Will you go home after?’
    â€˜Yer. I ain’t got a lot of choice. Will you?’
    Janet nodded.
    â€˜I’m gonner miss you.’
    â€˜Not as much as I’ll miss you. You’re the closest friend I’ve ever had. You must give me your address.’
    â€˜Course, and you must give me yours.’
    â€˜Mine’s easy to remember: The Old Vicarage, Stowford, Near Horsham.’
    â€˜Sounds a bit like this place.’
    â€˜In some ways it is. I can’t always do what I want there either.’
    Janet felt her baby move; she loved this feeling of life within her. She sat back and placed her hands on her stomach. ‘Next year will be our babies’ first Christmas. I wonder what sort of people she’ll have for parents. I hope they look after her and love her.’
    When the girls had done the ring test on Janet, they’d told her she was going to have a girl.
    â€˜Put a sock in it, Jan. You’ll have me in tears in a minute.’
    Janet knew her friend wasn’t joking.
    Â 
    After church on Christmas morning presents were