Girls in Tin Hats by Annie Murray

Author:Annie Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Twenty-Seven

From outside the back door Grace could hear the familiar noises of her family as they began the day. It felt like the most terrible moment of her life, knowing that there were these last seconds when they were all there, not knowing, before she had to step inside and tell them . . .

‘Ah, Grace – thank the Lord!’ Her mother’s tired face lifted into a smile as she spoke above the hubbub of the other children. She immediately poured Grace a cup of tea. ‘What a night we had. At least you’re here – I wish your father would hurry up and get home too.’

She hasn’t heard, Grace thought. Her face felt set, stony, as if she couldn’t move it.

‘Mom.’ She tried to sound casual, as if it was nothing. ‘Can you come here a tick?’ She gestured towards the front room. ‘I just need a quick word.’

Her mother’s face tensed immediately and following Grace she pulled the door between the front and back room closed and held on to it.

‘What is it? Oh, Grace . . . What’ve you got to tell me? Let me sit down for it.’ She lurched over and sank on to one of the chairs.

Grace’s right hand went to her heart, which felt as if it was racing so fast it might give out. She opened her mouth and the words just wouldn’t come.

‘Holy Mother of God, what is it?’ White-faced, Cath perched on the tatty leather chair.

‘Mom . . .’ she said hoarsely. Her tears came then and made speech even more difficult. ‘We don’t know anything for sure, but . . . They hit the BSA last night. And I’ve been there for hours and I can’t find Dad anywhere.’ She sank to her knees on the floor then, sobs breaking out of her.

Her mother was silent for a long minute, but then Grace felt herself being pulled firmly to her feet. Her mother was strangely calm.

‘Get yourself up – and tell me, quietly . . .’

Grace quickly whispered the horror of the night. She didn’t mention the people trapped, or exactly what had happened. It seemed too terrible, all at once.

‘They just think they might not have got everyone out,’ she said. ‘And I couldn’t find him – I’ve been looking for hours.’

Cath Templeton sank on to the chair again. Her face was very grave but she was fully in control. Grace was strengthened by the steely look of her.

‘All right,’ she said. ‘Now, Grace, dry your eyes and get yourself together. This is what we are going to do. We go in there and get everyone off to work and to school. And we don’t say a word until we know something for sure. And then . . .’ She seemed to drift for a moment. After that was unthinkable. ‘Then we’ll see.’

Violet stood at Mrs Oval’s door, waves of tiredness passing through her. She felt as though she might collapse if she didn’t sit down soon.

Mildred Oval came to the door looking surprisingly fresh, all things considered.

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