The Orphanage Girls Reunited by Mary Wood

Author:Mary Wood [Wood, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2022-10-11T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Ellen

There was an excited air amongst those of the young men and women gathered in the hall who had said they were willing to go where needed and chatter filled the room.

Ellen kept her fingers crossed that she, Ruth and Alison, the girl Ruth had asked her to sponsor, were chosen.

When Miss Jaminson stood, after ticking them all off on her register, a silence fell. She looked around the room.

‘I know that those of you who have put your names forward are anxious for me to announce who has been chosen from my group. But . . .’

Ellen tensed. She hadn’t thought there would be a ‘but’.

‘Well, it is unfortunate but out of the ten of you who volunteered, only three have been chosen. That is if the three can be ready to go next week. If not, then others can take the place of anyone who has to decline. But I want you all to keep your chins up as it is an ever-changing position that our medical staff abroad find themselves in, and it is likely that they will need a steady stream of us to help them. The problem at this early stage is funding. Only those who can pay their own fare are being chosen. This again will change as we raise more money, but sadly, though a unit of much talent, we do all come from one of the poorest areas of London . . . For the men amongst us, you are now trained enough to volunteer for the Army Medical Corps, and they are asking for you to come forward.’

A cheer went up from the five young men who always sat together.

‘I have details here for you all of where you should go to offer your services and your Red Cross certificates. And we all wish you well. Now, if you would like to come up and take a pack each, you may leave as there will be little time for you to make arrangements and spend time with your families.’

Ellen took hold of Ruth’s hand and squeezed it. ‘Oh, Ruth, could it be you, me and Alison?’

‘I hope so, luv. I’m sure we were the only ones who said we could pay, but I have to admit to feeling nervous. Next week’s bloomin’ quick! I’ll just have to hope the theatre will let me go.’

‘Is there any doubt?’

‘There hasn’t been any objection, and they know me plans. It’s just if they can do it at such short notice. But if it’s us, then I ain’t saying anything about that to Miss Jaminson, just accepting the offer. But yer sure yer’ll be able to afford it all, ain’t yer, Ellen?’

‘I will, love. And I’ll have enough to keep us going . . . They’ll feed us, won’t they? So, we’ll not want much more than our uniforms and our fares.’

‘Yes, that’s all we’ll need, mate. But next week! That’s a bit worrying.’

‘It is for me, too. I’ll have to make a trip up to see Dilly and Cook, and make sure they’re all right.

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