Flight of the Tiger Moth by Mary Woodbury

Author:Mary Woodbury
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: WW II; pilot; flying; friendship; 1943; growing up; becoming a man; prairie home; plane
ISBN: 9781550508994
Publisher: Coteau Books

Chapter ­16

One morning over a week later, Jack and Wes rode their bikes to the air base. Wes was working on the Moth Monthly, the base newsletter. He pointed to the ­sky.

“Looks like some of the guys are doing manoeuvres. You’d really like to be up there, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d love to fly, you know that.” Jack pointed at his big glasses and shook his ­head.

“Why do you need super eyesight to fly? There’s nothing to bump into up there.”

“There is over France and Germany. There’s ­ack-­ack around you and flak coming from the ground guns.” Jack dodged a dead ­gopher.

“You’d fit right in, though. Me, I’m more like Cathy. I just want countries to figure out how to live together. I want to write for a newspaper, and not be a war correspondent.”

“Wes, someone’s got to put Hitler and Mussolini out of business.”

“I know. Dragons have to be slain, but I don’t want to do it,” said ­Wes.

“If I was old enough, I’d go.”

“I know.”

Above their heads small planes banked, rolled and dived. Wes changed the subject. “Dexter and Cheese are afraid they might wash out. Cheese gets nosebleeds and makes mistakes. Dexter keeps gaining weight.”

“Trevor loves it,” Jack said. “And Basil feels right at home in the sky.”

“Cathy’s afraid for him,” Wes said. “Basil takes chances. Pushes the limits. That’s why she’s so gaga about him.”

“We should take Trevor and Basil out to the swimming hole at the farm, Dexter and Cheese too,” Jack suggested as they pedalled onto the ­base.

“Maybe after work if they’re free.” Wes parked in front of the administration office. Jack headed across the pavement to the hangar and stuck his bike in the rack before heading to work. Harold and some of the younger mechanics were already ­there.

“About time you got here. Your dog’s already curled up on his blanket waiting for you. lac Knight dropped him off on his way to his flying lesson. He’s going solo for the third time.”

For a second Jack envied Trevor like crazy. Then he let it ­go.

Jack tucked his lunch in his locker and tugged on his coveralls and work boots. Buddy leapt to his feet as Jack strolled toward his workspace. He knelt and played with Buddy, made him sit, shake hands and play dead. He filled Buddy’s water bowl and tossed some dog food in his dish. “You may hang out with all sorts of guys, Buddy, but you’re still my dog, and don’t you forget it.”

Buddy cocked his head and the way his jaw was set, anyone looking would have sworn the dog was ­smiling.

“Enough, Jackie.” Harold wiped sweat from his broad forehead as he came over. “I want you to wash down those two Moths to the left of the runway. Check if their bodies need any repairs. And stay clear of traffic. The flyboys are up and down like ­yo-­yos. The instructors are ­shell-­shocked from so many close calls and rescue missions.”

“How’s Angus?” Jack ­asked.

“Says he’s healing fast. I’ll put him on light duty for a few weeks.

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