Poppy's War by Lily Baxter

Author:Lily Baxter
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781407071145
Publisher: Random House

Chapter Eleven

‘IT’S NOT BLOODY fair,’ Edie said, hooking her arm around Poppy’s shoulders. ‘Mrs C is an old bat and I don’t care who hears me say so.’

‘Hush, keep your voice down.’ Jean glanced anxiously up and down the railway platform. ‘You’ll get us all sacked if you don’t watch your tongue.’ She patted Poppy on the cheek. ‘Not that I disagree with Edie. We’ll miss you terribly.’

Mavis came hurrying through the ticket hall clutching a bar of chocolate which she thrust into Poppy’s hands. ‘I used all my coupons for this, so don’t go sharing it around. It’s for you and you alone, love.’ Pushing Edie aside, Mavis gave Poppy a hug. ‘I can’t believe you’re leaving us.’

Close to tears, Poppy sniffed. ‘I don’t want to go, but she said I’m too young to be a land girl.’

‘She makes me sick,’ Edie said bitterly. ‘The old hypocrite. She was happy enough to let you slog away when it suited her, and play nanny to young Rupert, but now she’s no use for you you’re chucked out with the bath water.’

‘Isn’t that throwing the baby out with the bath water?’ Mavis said with a puzzled frown.

‘Don’t be so literal.’ Jean slipped her arm around Poppy’s shoulders. ‘We think it’s a crying shame, and we’ll miss you like billy-o.’

‘I’ll write to you,’ Poppy said, sniffing. ‘And you must write and tell me everything that’s going on. Tell Algy to send my love to Amy, because I haven’t got an address for her. I asked Mrs Carroll but she kept forgetting.’

‘Typical,’ Jean snorted. ‘Never mind. I promise to mention it to Algy, if I ever see him again. We’re not an item …’

‘Just good friends,’ Edie and Mavis chanted in unison.

‘Shut up,’ Jean said without malice. ‘Anyway, here comes your train, Poppy.’

Amidst tears and hugs, Poppy somehow managed to board the London-bound train. She let the window down and leaned out waving until they were out of sight. She picked up her suitcase, slung her gas mask over her shoulder and trudged through the corridors in search of a non-smoking compartment. After being buffeted about and doing an involuntary cake-walk as she crossed the concertina-like area where the carriages were joined together, she found an almost empty compartment next to the guard’s van. A young woman in Wrens uniform was asleep in the far corner next to the window and a thin woman with a baby in her arms was seated opposite, staring blankly out of the window while her child slept. No doubt she was grateful for the rest, Poppy thought sympathetically. The poor soul looked exhausted.

Poppy settled down by the window next to the corridor and closed her eyes but she could not sleep. All she could think of was Squire’s Knapp which had become her home, and the friends she was leaving far behind. If only Guy had been there he would have stood up for her. He would have seen how well she had looked after the horses and appreciated how hard she had worked on the farm.

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