right after Pearl Harbor I quit college and enlisted as a cadet with the Army Air Corps. Trained in Georgia and Texas and here I am.â
âI rather think youâve left out some of the story.â
Heâd left out plenty: the whole way he felt about flying. That being in an airplane was the place he really belonged to in the world. That it was as natural to him as being on the ground was to others. That whereas most guys were real nervous when they first soloed, heâd felt like heâd come home. âI put it in a nutshell for you, sir.â
âAnd what do you think of our country, now that youâre here?â
The Limeys always wanted to know that. He answered truthfully. âItâs straight out of a storybook. Iâve never seen such beautiful green countryside. Or such great old houses. Or such beautiful old churches.â
âSurely there are a great many of those in Italy?â
âIâve never been to Italy, sir. This is my first trip to Europe. First time outside the US. And I sure didnât reckon on my first visit ending up this way.â
When they had finished the bubble and squeak the daughter cleared away the dishes. âThereâs baked apple and custard for pudding, if youâd like some.â She said it as though she knew damned well he wouldnât.
âSounds good to me.â
It
was
good. Sheâd put some sort of dried fruits in the middle and sweetened them with honey. He skipped the custard, though. His turn to ask some questions, he decided. That way sheâd have to talk to him.
âHow longâve you been teaching at the school, Miss Dawe?â
âTwo years.â
He reckoned she must be about twenty. âYou teach the little kids, thatâs right?â He knew very well that she did and she knew that he knew that she did. Sheâd seen him looking in through the window. âWhat do you teach them?â
She was going pink in the face again. âThe alphabet. Numbers. Counting. Painting and drawing. Reciting and singing.â
âAnything else?â
She hesitated. âWell, we have a Nature Table.â
âWhatâs that?â
âWe collect things on walks â leaves, fir cones, flowers, nuts, feathers, snailshells . . . whatever we can find. Theyâre put on a special table and labelled. The children learn something about nature. They have a rabbit, too, and some guinea pigs that they look after themselves.â
The British were in a class of their own, he thought. Their country had been engaged in total war for four years, bombed to bits, struggling all alone for survival, but these little kids were still busily collecting stuff for their Nature Table.
A telephone started ringing somewhere and the rector headed for the door. âExcuse me. I must answer that. Agnes, will you take care of Lieutenant Mochetti?â
She didnât look too thrilled about that and he reckoned it was time to leave and said so. He followed her back down the dark passageway to the hall and collected his cap and jacket. She was holding the front door open for him; outside it was still raining cats and dogs. He shrugged on his A2 and zipped it up. âSay, weâre having a dance Saturday at the Officersâ Club. Weâve a pretty good band and weâll lay on the transport. How about you coming?â
âIâm afraid I couldnât.â
âThatâs a shame.â He twirled his cap round on one finger. âHow about the next one after that? Itâs going to be a regular thing.â
âIâm sorry.â
âYou donât like dancing?â
âSometimes, yes.â
âThen why not come along?â
âIâd just prefer not to, thank you.â
âCome on, give it a try?â
âNo, thank you.â
âYou that sure?â
â
Quite
sure.â
Sheâd got him figured for just another skirt-chasing Yank. No point
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