have made my day more interesting. I have enjoyed meeting you, Mrs Lincoln, and wish you all the best for the future.’
‘Thank you, Lieutenant.’ Grace headed out of the building feeling relieved to have finally made the decision. A smile hovered on her lips as she thought about the interview. That was the last time she would be able to speak her mind to an officer.
She saw a cafe across the road, and headed for it. She needed a strong cup of tea!
Chapter Eleven
A week or so later the letter arrived telling her to report to a camp in Northamptonshire on the 7th of September.
‘They haven’t given you much time,’ her mother complained. ‘That’s tomorrow!’
‘I’m glad I haven’t had to wait too long. Don’t look so worried, Mum. I’ll be all right, and I’ve got to do this.’
‘I know, dear, but we’ll miss you. I know you and Brian would have moved into a place of your own eventually, but this is different. You will be alone.’
‘No, I won’t. There will be lots of other girls there, and we’ll soon get to know each other.’
‘Don’t fuss, Jean.’ Ted walked in to the kitchen. ‘Grace is more than capable of looking after herself. Anyway, it will be an adventure, won’t it, Grace?’
‘It will,’ she laughed. ‘Don’t forget, Mum, that Dan took me to an army camp quite a few times, so I have some idea what to expect.’
‘Of course. And talking of Dan, don’t forget you promised to let Colonel Askew know what you’re doing.’
‘I haven’t forgotten, Mum. I’ll do that today.’
As soon as breakfast was cleared away, Grace went to the War Office. She no longer had her pass, so she had to wait while they checked to see if the colonel could see her. She would leave a message for him if he wasn’t there.
He soon came striding towards her, a wide smile on his face. ‘Grace, how lovely to see you. I’m afraid I can only spare ten minutes. Phone next time, and we can meet when I am free.’
‘I won’t be able to come again. I’m going away. I’ve come to tell you that I’ve joined the ATS, and will be going to a camp in Northamptonshire tomorrow.’
‘Ah, that’s splendid. Thank you for letting me know. Perhaps you could find the time to drop me a line now and again? I’d like to know how you get on.’
‘I’ll do that, sir.’
He nodded. ‘I miss having you and Dan here. It seems so quiet.’
‘I imagine it is,’ she laughed. ‘May I ask how he is getting on?’
‘He’s delighted to be back in the fray, you know. He’s fit and happy again, thank goodness.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. I mustn’t keep you any longer. Thank you for seeing me, Colonel Askew.’
‘All the best for the future, my dear.’
The next day Grace caught the train, excited, but also apprehensive, and sad at the same time. She was leaving behind everything that was familiar, and heading for a life that was full of uncertainties. Her mother had been tearful at the station, and Grace had tried to explain that this was the right thing for her to do. The house held so manymemories of Brian, and the large bed felt empty knowing he would never be there again. It had been hard to leave her parents, though, but her dad had remained cheerful and positive. That had been a great help.
The train was crowded, but after much searching, Grace managed to find a seat. She settled back and gazed out of the window at the passing countryside, not really seeing it. Her mind was now on what awaited her at the end of the journey.
That time seemed to come all too soon, and as Grace walked into the camp, she was reminded of the times she had spent with Dan when he’d been training to get fit again. About twenty girls had arrived on the same train, and most of them were looking worried.
‘What do we do now?’ one of the girls whispered to Grace.
‘We’ll soon find out. Our instructions are on the way.’
‘Oh, help!’ the girl exclaimed when she saw the soldier marching towards them.
‘Thank you, Lieutenant.’ Grace headed out of the building feeling relieved to have finally made the decision. A smile hovered on her lips as she thought about the interview. That was the last time she would be able to speak her mind to an officer.
She saw a cafe across the road, and headed for it. She needed a strong cup of tea!
Chapter Eleven
A week or so later the letter arrived telling her to report to a camp in Northamptonshire on the 7th of September.
‘They haven’t given you much time,’ her mother complained. ‘That’s tomorrow!’
‘I’m glad I haven’t had to wait too long. Don’t look so worried, Mum. I’ll be all right, and I’ve got to do this.’
‘I know, dear, but we’ll miss you. I know you and Brian would have moved into a place of your own eventually, but this is different. You will be alone.’
‘No, I won’t. There will be lots of other girls there, and we’ll soon get to know each other.’
‘Don’t fuss, Jean.’ Ted walked in to the kitchen. ‘Grace is more than capable of looking after herself. Anyway, it will be an adventure, won’t it, Grace?’
‘It will,’ she laughed. ‘Don’t forget, Mum, that Dan took me to an army camp quite a few times, so I have some idea what to expect.’
‘Of course. And talking of Dan, don’t forget you promised to let Colonel Askew know what you’re doing.’
‘I haven’t forgotten, Mum. I’ll do that today.’
As soon as breakfast was cleared away, Grace went to the War Office. She no longer had her pass, so she had to wait while they checked to see if the colonel could see her. She would leave a message for him if he wasn’t there.
He soon came striding towards her, a wide smile on his face. ‘Grace, how lovely to see you. I’m afraid I can only spare ten minutes. Phone next time, and we can meet when I am free.’
‘I won’t be able to come again. I’m going away. I’ve come to tell you that I’ve joined the ATS, and will be going to a camp in Northamptonshire tomorrow.’
‘Ah, that’s splendid. Thank you for letting me know. Perhaps you could find the time to drop me a line now and again? I’d like to know how you get on.’
‘I’ll do that, sir.’
He nodded. ‘I miss having you and Dan here. It seems so quiet.’
‘I imagine it is,’ she laughed. ‘May I ask how he is getting on?’
‘He’s delighted to be back in the fray, you know. He’s fit and happy again, thank goodness.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. I mustn’t keep you any longer. Thank you for seeing me, Colonel Askew.’
‘All the best for the future, my dear.’
The next day Grace caught the train, excited, but also apprehensive, and sad at the same time. She was leaving behind everything that was familiar, and heading for a life that was full of uncertainties. Her mother had been tearful at the station, and Grace had tried to explain that this was the right thing for her to do. The house held so manymemories of Brian, and the large bed felt empty knowing he would never be there again. It had been hard to leave her parents, though, but her dad had remained cheerful and positive. That had been a great help.
The train was crowded, but after much searching, Grace managed to find a seat. She settled back and gazed out of the window at the passing countryside, not really seeing it. Her mind was now on what awaited her at the end of the journey.
That time seemed to come all too soon, and as Grace walked into the camp, she was reminded of the times she had spent with Dan when he’d been training to get fit again. About twenty girls had arrived on the same train, and most of them were looking worried.
‘What do we do now?’ one of the girls whispered to Grace.
‘We’ll soon find out. Our instructions are on the way.’
‘Oh, help!’ the girl exclaimed when she saw the soldier marching towards them.
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