Heartwarming and emotional story of one girl's courage in WW2 Fenella Miller (best books for 8th graders txt) 📖

‘Good idea. Sooner the blighter gets on his way the better.’

His unpleasant companion was more than happy to oblige and drove away immediately. Jack appeared at the office door more or less upright.

‘I reckon I can get into the car if I can lean on your shoulder, Jimmy.’

He managed it but looked very unwell by the time he was slumped on the front seat. ‘You drive, Jimmy, I’ll cycle in front of you. I’ll need my bike to get back here.’

The office was locked so there was nothing else to do. The brown envelope was burning a hole in her pocket and she was determined to give it to Jack at the earliest opportunity.

Her father was looking remarkably cheerful considering Mum had abandoned him. When Jack had told her Mum had gone away she had been more relieved than anything else.

‘Thank you for agreeing to this, Dad.’

‘Happy to, love, not had so much excitement since I was in the trenches.’

He’d somehow survived the last war but this was the first time he’d mentioned it. No one who had returned from France spoke about their experiences.

Between Jimmy and her dad they got Jack into the kitchen. Her stomach lurched when she saw what Dad had done. The kitchen table had been cleared and the kettle and a couple of saucepans were simmering on the range.

‘I’ll leave you three to get on with things.’

‘Don’t you want to help me stitch him up? Then next time you’ll know how to do it yourself,’ Jimmy said.

She was about to agree when Jack, who was leaning against the table getting his breath back, spoke up. ‘Push off, sweetheart, you’ve done more than enough already.’ He managed a lopsided grin. ‘Isn’t there something domestic you could be getting on with?’

‘Cheek! Dad, did you get a room ready for him?’

‘No, thought you could do it a lot quicker than me.’

‘In which case I’ll do that before I leave. He can go in George’s room.’

It was a good thing Mum had gone as she would never have allowed Jack to stay. The house seemed calmer, friendlier somehow, without Mum there. She and Dad would manage quite happily without being constantly criticised.

*

An hour later she was pedalling furiously in the opposite direction. Jack was safely installed upstairs and Jimmy had driven off in the Austin. Dad said he was happy to clear up the kitchen but he wouldn’t be able to prepare a meal. He was needed for milking as the cowman had a dicky stomach.

The envelope was now hidden in an old suitcase on top of the wardrobe in Jack’s room. There had been no opportunity to tell him she’d found it as they’d not been alone together. She was sure this was something he didn’t want anyone else to know about.

She had to get back so she could clean the blood from the wall and floor of the office. She could hardly sign the log book and take the client’s money anywhere else.

Whilst she was at home she’d changed back into her usual uniform of dungarees and these were ideal for scrambling about on the floor with a bucket of water and scrubbing brush. She stood up and examined her work. There was still a faint stain on both the floor and wall but she doubted anyone would see it unless they were looking. With one of the chairs strategically placed over the damp patch the office was ready.

With Jack out of action for at least a week she would have to cancel a few of the bookings. Some of the new clients didn’t want to be taught by a girl so postponed their lessons until Jack was likely to be back. The others she fitted in around her own schedule. This meant she would be working longer hours, including the weekend.

Someone would have to do the domestic chores and prepare the meals for the invalid, as well as the three farm labourers and her dad. It would have to be a woman who wouldn’t gossip, someone who needed a bit of extra cash.

On the way home she would call in and speak to Mrs Branston, recently widowed and finding it hard to make ends meet. Mrs B lived on the edge of the village in a cottage owned by her dad. He’d suspended her rent indefinitely so there was no danger of her being turned out of her home. Mrs B would jump at the chance to help the family and would keep anything she heard or saw to herself.

Her mission was successful and she arrived home in good spirits. Fortunately, it wasn’t late and she had plenty of time to prepare something for the evening meal. One of the benefits of living on a mixed farm was that there was always a fully stocked larder.

From the lowing and mooing coming from the cowshed Dad was in there doing the milking. The farm labourers went home for their tea so she only had to make food for the three of them.

As soon as she got in she dashed upstairs and knocked on Jack’s door. He called out for her to come in and she pushed it open. He was sitting up in bed reading a newspaper and apart from being a bit pale looked surprisingly well.

‘I’m just going to wash and change and will then be getting on with supper. Would you like a cup of tea or something to be going on with?’

‘Come in and shut the door. I’ve more important things on my mind than a hot drink.’

*

Ellie looked a bit put out at his abrupt tone but for once didn’t argue the toss. ‘Did you find what you were looking for?’

She pointed to a battered suitcase on top of the wardrobe. ‘I did, and I put the envelope in there. Do you want to read it?’

‘No – absolutely not. I take it you didn’t open it.’ She shook her head. ‘The less either of us know about