An Orphan’s War: One of the best historical fiction books you will read this year by Molly Green

Author:Molly Green [Green, Molly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008238988
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2018-05-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Two

‘I’ve had a letter from Mr Clarke,’ June said, smiling broadly. ‘He’s quite happy for me to advertise for a full-time nurse if you’ll do the dual role we discussed. And the best news is that he will pay you an extra ten shillings a week.’

‘That will come in handy,’ Maxine said, immediately thinking of Teddy. If only she was allowed to write to him – send him a gift on his birthday and Christmas. She knew his adoptive parents came from Scotland, but she wasn’t permitted to know any other details. There was to be no contact at all. She swallowed hard.

‘Is everything all right?’ June asked, sounding concerned. ‘You haven’t changed your mind, have you?’

‘No, not at all.’ Maxine smiled, fighting back the telltale tears, and hoping June wouldn’t probe further. She changed the subject. ‘I’m looking forward to hearing the children sing this afternoon.’

Athena was sitting at the piano in the library flicking through some sheets of music and frowning.

‘I can’t really read music this complicated,’ she owned up. ‘I think I’ll stick to playing by ear.’

‘I’m sure the children won’t notice.’ Maxine grinned. ‘Did you make a list of songs?’

‘I jotted these down.’ Athena handed a sheet of paper to Maxine who quickly glanced over it.

‘They’re a nice mix,’ she said. ‘Something for everyone. Nursery rhymes, English folk songs and even one or two American ones.’

‘I thought I should include them,’ Athena said, ‘seeing as the Americans are helping our boys.’

The children filed in, the boys shoving and calling out to one another and working up the girls. There were some excited voices amongst them, although Maxine noticed Peter’s face was devoid of expression. He was only there on sufferance, she suspected.

June clapped her hands. ‘Children. Quieten down, please. This is the library and you know better. Now, if you’re eight years or older stand to the right, all the younger ones to their left.’

There was more shuffling – Barbara making sure the younger children were in the right place. They all gazed expectantly at June.

‘We told you we were all going to sing together this afternoon,’ June began, ‘and we hope you’ll enjoy it so we can do this every week. The songs will be different from the hymns in the morning and if you know them, sing out, and if you don’t, you’ll soon learn. But all you children on the right, please let the young ones sing the nursery songs on their own. We’ll start with them.’

Athena turned from the piano. ‘Let’s begin with “Teddy Bears’ Picnic”.’

Soon the library was filled with the sound of a dozen small children’s voices. It was a happy sound and Maxine caught June’s eye and smiled. If the older ones enjoyed this half as much, it should be a great success.

‘Lovely,’ Athena said when they’d finished ‘Ring a Ring of Roses’. ‘Shall we let the older children sing one of their songs?’

‘Yes,’ chorused the little ones.

‘No,’ Lizzie shouted. ‘I want to sing all the songs.’

June beamed. ‘Just wait your turn, Lizzie, and listen to the grown-up songs.

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