An Island at War by Deborah Carr

Author:Deborah Carr [Carr, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008436292
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Twenty-Four

Estelle

August 1941

Estelle walked into the kitchen one evening in early August. As soon as she opened the door, her grandmother spun round, her mouth open in shock, the plate she was drying slipping from her hands and crashing on to the tiled floor.

Estelle rushed forward. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’

Her grandmother’s breathing was shallow and her whole body was shaking. She looked as if she was about to pass out.

‘Come and sit down,’ Estelle said, taking her by the shoulders and leading her to a chair, which she pulled back from the table, before pouring her a glass of water. ‘Here, drink this.’

Her gran blinked then, as if noticing Estelle for the first time. ‘I’m fine, my love.’

She didn’t look it, Estelle thought as she crouched down to carefully pick up the pieces of the broken plate. Taking the dustpan and brush she swept up and disposed of the smaller fragments of porcelain. As she washed her hands, it occurred to her that the broken plate was one of the last few plates that her mother and father had been given as a wedding present. Estelle realised that her gran must be in a bad state not to have commented on breaking it because she was the one who had always made a fuss when Estelle or Rosie used any of the four remaining plates, saying how precious they were to their parents.

‘Are you going to tell me why you had such a shock when I walked in? I know something’s frightened you, I can tell by your reaction, so please don’t bother trying to deny it.’

Her gran shook her head and attempted to smile, but failed pitifully.

‘Gran, I told you, I’m not going to let you get away with not telling me. Wouldn’t you be hurt if I kept something important from you?’

Her gran stared at her and after a few moments nodded. ‘Yes, I would.’

‘Right. We’ve only got each other now, here on the island, for as long as this damn war lasts, so we need to be able to confide in one another. Tell me what’s upset you. Please.’

Her grandmother seemed to be struggling to explain. ‘Take your time. There’s no rush. It’s just the two of us here.’

Her grandmother clasped her hands together. ‘You saw that new order in the paper a couple of months’ ago. The one about people having to declare if they are Jewish?’

Estelle nodded.

Her grandmother gave a slight shrug and seemed to make a concerted effort to straighten up. ‘It’s upset me, that’s all. Haven’t you read about those poor people having to wear yellow stars on their coats, losing their businesses and being treated like pariahs these past few years. All over Europe. And not just those who are Jewish, either.’

‘Yes, and I agree it’s horrific. The Jewish community haven’t been made to wear yellow stars on their coats here now, have they?’

‘Not yet.’

Her grandmother stared at her momentarily and then rested her right hand on Estelle’s left. ‘I have a friend who’s Jewish, Mrs Green.

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