Kid Soldier by Jennifer Maruno

Author:Jennifer Maruno
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn
Published: 2013-08-01T16:00:00+00:00

—

“We’re in the dining room,” Joyce called out on their return. “Have a good wash.”

Joyce sat at the table with two women as thin as knitting needles in matching pink cardigans and pearl necklaces. Both had brown hair, pale complexions, and gold spectacles over brown eyes.

One appeared as fussy as old hen, straightening the buttons of her sweater and adjusting the cuffs of her blouse.

The black bobby pins on the sides of the other’s head gave her look of a little girl.

“Hello Edith,” Will boomed out, extending his hand, “or is it Emily?”

The woman smiled. “You are correct,” she said in a prim voice. “I am Edith.”

Her twin peeked at Richard over the edge of the lace handkerchief she held to her nose.

Will drew Richard forward. “Let me introduce you, lad,” he said. “This is your Aunt Edith and your Aunt Emily, on your mother’s side.”

“That would make you my mother’s sisters,” Richard said, extending his hand to Edith. “I am pleased to meet you.”

Edith shook his hand.

Emily waved her fingers as her handkerchief inched up to her lower lashes.

“Handsome, isn’t he?” Will said, giving Richard such a great slap on the back, he fell into his seat. “We’ve brought everyone parsnips and Brussels sprouts.”

“Thank you,” Edith said, with a small upward nod of approval. She took a delicate sip from her china cup. “I suppose you expect us to invite you for Christmas dinner, Richard.”

Before Richard could answer, Joyce passed him a plate of treacled bread. “I was thinking of having you and Emily here for dinner,” she said with a smile. “That way we could all enjoy his company. What do you think, Richard?”

“Is there a restaurant in town?” Richard asked.

“Only one,” William said, “along with a few cafes. Why?”

Richard reached into his pocket, pulled out the remainder of his five pounds and his ration card, and spread it all out in front of them. “Let me treat all of you to Christmas dinner,” he said.

“I wouldn’t hear of it,” Joyce said, bringing her teacup down with a clunk. “Edith, bring along what you have and we’ll cobble it all together.”

Emily lowered her handkerchief into her lap. She reached across the table and pushed the coins off of the pound notes. “There is the pantomime,” she said, turning to Edith.

“My sister prefers to spend money on something frivolous like a pantomime or the cinema,” Edith said, with a roll of her eyes.

Emily looked a Richard and blinked. “Edith would buy a book instead of a loaf of bread.”

“Do you read, Richard?” Edith asked.

He thought for a minute. “I read The Wizard of Oz.”

Edith lifted her brows to her hairline and looked at her sister. Richard knew it was the signal for a poor excuse for a book.

“A friend of mine gave it to me,” he added in defense.

“Your mother wasn’t much of a reader,” Edith said, “but she was good at numbers.” She looked at Joyce and sniffed. “I can’t imagine spending my life with someone who didn’t read.

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