Billie Swift Takes Flight by Iszi Lawrence

Author:Iszi Lawrence
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Inc

Bill’s eyes were on Stone, watching him sing next to other RAF officers in full uniform, knowing he was up to something. Spitfires were a symbol of hope and bravery. He’d crashed one, and then set light to it. It felt like sacrilege.

‘Their escort be; their guardian strong,

As through the skies they speed along.

Through clouds and storms and trackless space

Guide and uphold them with thy grace.

Look down in mercy; hear our prayer

For those in peril in the air.’

He turned and caught her staring at him. His smug expression changed into confusion. A hatred burned through Billie that she couldn’t help but whisper:

‘Look down in mercy; hear our prayer

But not for him in the air.’

On the way out of church, Mr Hart called Billie over. Her heart sped up as she glanced over at the two police constables who were collecting their bicycles which were resting against the side of the building. Her hatred of Stone was replaced by a sudden realisation that Mr Hart could have her arrested as a truant.

‘Why aren’t you in school?’

‘I am,’ Billie said quickly. ‘I’m having lessons at the ATA.’

‘Flying lessons?’

‘And meteorology, mechanical engineering…’

Mr Hart’s eyebrows raised. ‘Your mother never said you would be…’

‘She’s busy with the ambulance,’ Billie cut him off.

‘Everything alright Billie?’ said Nancy.

‘Yes,’ Billie said, happy to stop the interrogation before it started. ‘This is my old teacher.’

‘Morning,’ Mr Hart said touching his hat. ‘Billie says she’s taking classes at the airfield?’

‘That’s right, she’s a cadet.’

Mr Hart paused. He had a look of confusion on his face.

‘Nancy Bamford.’ Nancy held out her hand. ‘Second Officer, ATA.’

‘You’re American?’

‘Guilty as charged. What’s your name?’

Mr Hart was taken aback by her rudeness. ‘Hart, Cuthbert Hart. I know. Bit of a mouthful. That’s the one advantage of being a woman of course.’

‘What is?’

‘You can marry a man with a decent last name. I’m stuck with mine.’

‘I’ve heard worse methods of picking a husband,’ Nancy mused. ‘But you can still change your name, legally I mean.’

‘Can you?’

‘Oh yes, I knew a man who had to change his name. He thought about it for a while but when the war started, he just had to.’

‘What was his name?’

‘Adolf Stinkbottom.’

Billie and Mr Hart chuckled.

‘What did he change it to?’

‘Morgan Stinkbottom.’

Billie and Mr Hart laughed again.

‘Good one,’ Mr Hart said.

‘Nice to meet you Mr Hart.’

‘You too Miss Bamford.’

Nancy took Billie by the arm and walked with her out of the church.

‘How do you do that?’ Billie asked

‘Do what?’

‘Make friends like that,’ Billie said.

‘Probably my accent,’ Nancy said. ‘I shouldn’t speak ill of your countrymen but they are as snobby as they come. Back home I wasn’t exactly living in the high cotton but I could still rub along with just about anyone. So can most folks. But on this side of the pond it matters how you talk. You can be the most successful man or most beautiful lady to ever walk the earth but when y’all hear a dialect, you get cut off before you can start.’

Billie recalled how the evacuees were forced to repeat themselves by the adults.

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