Christmas Hope for the Steel Girls by Michelle Rawlins

Author:Michelle Rawlins [Rawlins, Michelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, World War II, Sagas, Friendship, Romance, 20th Century, History, Women
ISBN: 9780008427344
Google: f6EiEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Published: 2021-11-11T08:17:55+00:00

Chapter 15

Saturday, 23 December 1939

‘Are you ready?’ Betty asked Nancy enthusiastically, eager to get on with their errands now the midday hooter signalling the end of the working week had echoed around Vickers.

‘Yes! I’ve got Daisy’s jam tarts in my bag and Doris is happy to keep Billy and Linda for a couple of hours extra. She’s got a factory line of her own going on setting them making yet more colourful paper chains. I swear there won’t be a ceiling or wall that isn’t adorned with them. We’d already made some which I’ve brought to go along with all the other surprises for Daisy and her family.’

‘I’m sure they will appreciate that,’ Betty replied, grabbing her own bag and gas mask from the base of Myrtle. ‘I just need to nip up to see Dolly in the canteen and collect the money and then we can head down into Attercliffe. Frank has got the two bags of clothing and cakes I brought in this morning and Mrs Wallis is going to meet us all outside the gate in about ten minutes, with everything else.’

‘Did you decide how much money we needed for the shopping?’ Nancy asked, as they waited for Patty and Archie, who had also offered to lend a helping hand carrying all the Christmas treats.

‘I think I’m going to take seven pounds but I’m not sure we will need it all, as Mrs Wallis’s friends have made enough sweet treats to feed an army and have collected enough gifts, so we don’t have to actually buy any and Patty’s mum has…’

‘Did I overhear my name?’ came the chipper voice of the youngest of the three female steelworkers.

‘You don’t miss a trick,’ Betty laughed.

‘M’ mom always tells me I have bat ears,’ Patty giggled. ‘She says I can hear m’ name from an ’undred yards.’

‘She’s got a point,’ Betty said. ‘I was just about to tell Nancy, your mom has been busy creating outfits for Daisy’s sisters.’

‘Oh, she has,’ Patty beamed. ‘Look at these,’ she added, carefully reaching into her bag to reveal two identical red and white checked long-sleeved winter dresses, with embroidered Peter Pan collars and the most delicate of pearlescent buttons down the front.

‘They are beautiful!’ Nancy said in awe. ‘Did your mom make these from scratch?’

‘No.’ Patty shook her head. ‘They were our Sally and Emily’s but m’ mom has sewn on new buttons to replace the plain white ones and added the collars. Aren’t they lovely?’

‘They really are,’ Nancy agreed. ‘Perfect for Christmas day too.’

‘She nipped to see Mrs Sharp at the haberdashery in town too and bought some shiny red ribbon for Daisy’s sisters to use in their hair.’

‘That’s so thoughtful.’ Nancy smiled. ‘I can’t imagine a girl who wouldn’t be happy with a dress and matching ribbons to wear.’

‘Well, they have got to be coordinated,’ Patty said, to everyone’s amusement, visibly aghast that anything less could possibly be considered.

‘You really are a case,’ Betty mocked. ‘I agree, they are beautiful, though.

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