Keep Smiling Through by Ellie Dean

Author:Ellie Dean [Dean, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780099574620
Google: f4dp5xVTztgC
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2012-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

THE ATMOSPHERE IN Barrow Lane didn’t improve over the following three days, and although Rita had done her best to persuade Louise to change her mind, it seemed she was determined to make Rita feel so guilty that it was impossible to talk to her about even everyday things.

It had been a noisy day with planes taking off from the local airfield and several air-raid warnings, which luckily had come to very little. Darkness had fallen early as it always did at this time of year, and by five o’clock, they’d closed the blackout curtains and lit the gas lamps. They had become adept at preparing for the inevitable wail of the sirens, with small bags packed with their few precious possessions, the flask of tea and packet of sandwiches waiting on the table beside the rolled-up blankets and thick warm coats.

Rita was dressed and ready for her fire-watch duties, and Louise was sitting close to the range, saying nothing as she stared into the flames. Their early supper had been eaten almost in silence, just as all the meals had over the past few days, and it was beginning to wear Rita down.

‘I’ll have to leave in a few minutes, Mamma. Are you sure you have everything you’ll need in the shelter?’

‘Of course,’ Louise muttered. ‘I’ve gone there often enough – on my own.’

Rita didn’t respond to her snipe. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can,’ she said, ‘but it sounds as if Gerry’s going to give us a noisy night, and I have things to do after my shift, so I probably won’t see you until early evening.’

Louise shrugged. ‘You must do what you want. I no longer have any say in the matter.’

‘Don’t be like that, Mamma,’ Rita pleaded. ‘We both have jobs to do if we’re to win this war, and up until now you’ve been quite happy to go to the shelter on your own.’

‘It’s obviously something I’m going to have to get used to,’ Louise retorted, rising from her chair and slamming the kettle onto the hob. ‘My opinion no longer counts. I’m not important now you have made your plans to leave.’

Tamping down on a bitter retort, Rita buttoned her heavy coat and wound the woollen scarf round her neck. ‘Please don’t talk like that, Mamma,’ she said stiffly. ‘This is hard enough as it is, and I don’t want us to fight when Gerry’s threatening to blow us all to kingdom come.’

Louise kept her back to Rita as she spooned the last of the tea leaves into the brown china teapot. ‘Perhaps it would be best if Gerry did drop a bomb on me. Then you’ll be free to do what you want,’ she said softly.

Rita took a deep breath. ‘Now you’re just being over-dramatic.’ She went to Louise and took her arms, forcing her to turn and face her. ‘I love you, Mamma,’ she said firmly, ‘and I have never wished you dead. Why do you keep saying such

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