Martha's Girls by Alrene Hughes

Author:Alrene Hughes [Hughes, Alrene]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: WWII Saga
ISBN: 9781780888576
Publisher: Matador
Published: 2012-03-31T23:00:00+00:00

‘It’s no problem, Mrs Goulding, no problem at all. I may be a master baker by trade, but I’ve helped out in my uncle’s butcher’s shop since I was twelve years old.’

‘But Mr Ferguson, you’re all dressed up. Were you on your way out somewhere?’

Harry was already removing his jacket, but didn’t miss a trick. ‘To tell you the truth, Mrs Goulding, I was hoping to ask your permission to take Peggy to a Christmas Eve dance tonight.’

Martha took the jacket and held out her hand for the tie that quickly followed.

‘Oh, is that right? Peggy didn’t mention it.’

Harry rolled up his sleeves. ‘Now then, lead me to the beast.’

The Goulding women stood in silence in the kitchen listening to the noise of claws scrabbling on a cast iron bath and the flapping of wings against walls. Then suddenly all was silent. The door opened slowly and Harry Ferguson, looking very handsome with his dark hair falling over his eyes, poked his head out.

‘I’ll be needing a very sharp knife, some string and as much newspaper as you can lay your hands on, if that’s all right, Mrs Goulding.’

‘Of course it is, Mr Ferguson. I’ll fetch it right away.’

Half an hour later, he emerged and put a newspaper parcel on the table. ‘That can all be thrown out.’ A second parcel followed. ‘That’s your giblets; good for making gravy.’ Then the turkey plucked and trussed was on the table. ‘All sorted now, just needs stuffing and it’s ready for the oven.’

‘You’re a life saver, so you are!’ Martha was delighted. She looked from him to the turkey then back again. That’s when she noticed his shirt. ‘Oh no, it’s ruined, or it will be if you don’t get it in cold water right away. Quickly, get it off you,’ she ordered. Martha filled the sink with cold water liberally sprinkled with salt. ‘The best remedy for blood stains,’ she assured him and plunged his shirt in the sink. Only then did she turn around and, with a jolt of surprise, saw a young man stripped to the waist in her kitchen and her four daughters wide eyed and mesmerised by the sight.

An hour later wearing Robert’s only decent shirt, albeit a little tight around the collar, Harry Ferguson left Joanmount Gardens in his borrowed sports car with Peggy at his side on their way to a dance and her entire family waving them off.

Harry had promised to have Peggy back before midnight and Martha had surprised herself by believing him. Of course she decided to wait up for her, but she passed the time, not by worrying, but by adding the final touches to the girls’ presents. She sewed the buttons on their new jumpers and wrapped them up. Hanging from the fireplace were four ‘stockings’, each filled with an orange, some nuts and a different coloured comb for each daughter. Just before midnight, Martha heard the back door open. Peggy bustled in flushed and smiling.

‘Well,’ said Martha, ‘did you have a good time?’

‘Oh yes, yes.

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