Christmas on the Home Front by Annie Clarke

Author:Annie Clarke [Clarke, Annie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2020-10-29T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

It was 2 November and Davey was traipsing up the drive with Daniel and the other two to start their shift at Bletchley Park, heads down, talking nineteen to the dozen. Behind them, one of the Wrens called, ‘Get a move on.’ They speeded up, waving an acknowledgement, but instead of mithering about the weather or the food or wondering whether the Allies would maintain their momentum in North Africa, the boys were busy arguing about what Bernie the Beck Monster’s third kindness should be.

Davey smiled as he listened, for what seemed like a day long ago at the beck had created a monster all of its own, one that first had to be written and completed, and now the smile faded, to be replaced by a sigh, then a groan.

Daniel turned to him. ‘What’s up?’

‘We’re only halfway through and still have the third and fourth kindnesses, and on the telephone last night Fran passed on a message from the bairns.’ He stopped.

‘Go on, what’s the message?’ asked Colin.

Closing the gap between them, Maureen, one of the Wrens, called, ‘Don’t keep us in suspense.’

They passed beneath the magnolia branches, which would look magnificent in the spring, but were skeletal now. Davey muttered, ‘They said “Chop-chop, remember we need it by November the sixth because … “ ’ He stopped again, then said in a rush, ‘“It’s easy-peasy for you.”’

While Fran said, ‘But not for us, for we have the costumes to make, the cast to organise and at this rate we’ll need a bliddy miracle to be ready.’

‘No, don’t laugh,’ he shouted, feeling harassed. ‘We’ve got to finish it within the next two days, to get it in the post to arrive by Friday. I reckon they think we’re sitting about while being waited on hand, foot and finger.’

Colin’s novel was under his arm, as usual, his pipe clenched between his teeth, just as Martin’s was. Was pipe smoking catching? Davey wondered, but then Colin removed his.

‘Calm down. You did a lot on the train and with us chipping in we’ve got the first and second kindnesses written into scenes, and the top half of Bernie’s monster costume has by now changed into a prince’s doublet. The third kindness should reveal the hose, the fourth the head. Good that the princess narrates when necessary, in partnership with the old fairy. Ralph’s still to be the prince, didn’t you say?’

Davey nodded. ‘Aye, and Eva thinks the princess should be Viola, because, as the little madam told Fran, they are “still in love”.’

‘So come on, what’s the third?’ Colin’s gesticulations were so wild, he dropped his book and the bookmark six-year-old Dawn Siddely had made out of wallpaper fell out. He cursed. ‘If I’d turned down the corners, this wouldn’t happen.’

Daniel mimicked Dawn. ‘“Well, Mr Colin, that’s vandalism, my mum says, so shame on you.”’

Colin sighed and rushed after the bookmark, which was fluttering across the path in front of the Wrens, who’d dropped behind them. ‘Stop,’ he bellowed. ‘Right there.’

They did, watching but not helping as he bent to pick it up from the ground in front of Maureen.

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