They both turned their gaze skyward, watching the trails being made by planes weaving and diving. There was a battle going on up there. ‘What does your boyfriend do in the RAF?’
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, then said, ‘I expect he’s up there.’
‘He’s a pilot?’ Becky spun round to face her friend, concerned. Alice had been secretive about her boyfriend, talking only about the things they did on their infrequent dates, but never any personal details. However, she was certain this boy was special to her friend. To find out he was a fighter pilot made Becky sad. They were in the midst of a desperate battle. The Germans were determined to wipe out the air force before invading, and these pilots were equally determined to stop them. Everyone was aware of the great responsibility they had resting on their young shoulders.
Alice said nothing as she fingered a chain around her neck. Then she smiled. ‘I came to see if you were free for lunch?’
Knowing her friend well enough not to pursue the subject, Becky smiled back. ‘Give me five minutes to clean up.’
Only having an hour, they hurried towards the mess.
‘How are the boys?’ Alice asked as they sat down.
‘Fine, as far as I know. If we can get leave at the same time you must come home with me, Alice. We might be lucky and one or more of them will be home at the same time.’
‘Oh, thanks, I’d like that. But wouldn’t your parents object to you bringing home a stranger?’
‘You’re not a stranger,’ Becky laughed. ‘They know all about you. We’re great letter writers in our family.’
‘I see, you’ve been gossiping about me, have you?’ Alice teased.
‘Of course. So, will you come?’
‘I’d love to. We’ll see what we can arrange.’ She gave Becky a sympathetic glance. ‘I’m sorry there hasn’t been any news about your colonel. Have you been to see his family again?’
‘I went last week while you were on leave. Last time I was home I found a beautiful doll I’d been given when I was about Sara’s age, so I gave it to her. It was like new,’ she hastily added. ‘It was even still in the same box. I was more interested in playing with the boys’ toys.’
‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ Alice laughed. ‘Did Sara like the doll?’
‘Yes, she seemed very pleased with it, and was immediately pressing her grandmother to knit more clothes for it. Whoops!’ Becky shot to her feet. ‘I must get back. Are you going out tonight?’
‘Yes, I’m meeting Anthony at the Red Lion – if he can get away.’
‘Have a good time then.’ Becky patted her friend’s shoulder as she walked past, well knowing that it would be an anxious wait for Alice. Pilots didn’t always appear after a day’s flying.
She spent the evening writing letters to her parents, Will, Bob and Jim. She also wrote a chatty letter to David’s parents. Although they hid it well, she knew they were half out of their minds with the lack of news.
Collecting up the pile of letters, she took them to the post room. Then as it was still only nine o’clock she went to the NAFFI to spend an hour or so with some of the other girls.
From a very young age Will had always had a quick mind. He absorbed information easily and retained it. His mother said he had been born knowing what was going on around him, and he now blessed that ability to learn easily. Although he wasn’t going to be part of the fighting forces, he had to be able to take care of himself so he didn’t put anyone else in danger. His job was going to be to report on the war, not make a nuisance of himself. Nevertheless, he couldn’t wait to start doing his job – that was as long as they accepted him, of course. He knew what all this testing was about.
They had to be sure they were choosing the right people for the job, but he wished they’d put him out of his misery and tell him if he had a chance of being given the job.
As if in answer to his thoughts, the officer who had
Alice closed her eyes for a moment, then said, ‘I expect he’s up there.’
‘He’s a pilot?’ Becky spun round to face her friend, concerned. Alice had been secretive about her boyfriend, talking only about the things they did on their infrequent dates, but never any personal details. However, she was certain this boy was special to her friend. To find out he was a fighter pilot made Becky sad. They were in the midst of a desperate battle. The Germans were determined to wipe out the air force before invading, and these pilots were equally determined to stop them. Everyone was aware of the great responsibility they had resting on their young shoulders.
Alice said nothing as she fingered a chain around her neck. Then she smiled. ‘I came to see if you were free for lunch?’
Knowing her friend well enough not to pursue the subject, Becky smiled back. ‘Give me five minutes to clean up.’
Only having an hour, they hurried towards the mess.
‘How are the boys?’ Alice asked as they sat down.
‘Fine, as far as I know. If we can get leave at the same time you must come home with me, Alice. We might be lucky and one or more of them will be home at the same time.’
‘Oh, thanks, I’d like that. But wouldn’t your parents object to you bringing home a stranger?’
‘You’re not a stranger,’ Becky laughed. ‘They know all about you. We’re great letter writers in our family.’
‘I see, you’ve been gossiping about me, have you?’ Alice teased.
‘Of course. So, will you come?’
‘I’d love to. We’ll see what we can arrange.’ She gave Becky a sympathetic glance. ‘I’m sorry there hasn’t been any news about your colonel. Have you been to see his family again?’
‘I went last week while you were on leave. Last time I was home I found a beautiful doll I’d been given when I was about Sara’s age, so I gave it to her. It was like new,’ she hastily added. ‘It was even still in the same box. I was more interested in playing with the boys’ toys.’
‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ Alice laughed. ‘Did Sara like the doll?’
‘Yes, she seemed very pleased with it, and was immediately pressing her grandmother to knit more clothes for it. Whoops!’ Becky shot to her feet. ‘I must get back. Are you going out tonight?’
‘Yes, I’m meeting Anthony at the Red Lion – if he can get away.’
‘Have a good time then.’ Becky patted her friend’s shoulder as she walked past, well knowing that it would be an anxious wait for Alice. Pilots didn’t always appear after a day’s flying.
She spent the evening writing letters to her parents, Will, Bob and Jim. She also wrote a chatty letter to David’s parents. Although they hid it well, she knew they were half out of their minds with the lack of news.
Collecting up the pile of letters, she took them to the post room. Then as it was still only nine o’clock she went to the NAFFI to spend an hour or so with some of the other girls.
From a very young age Will had always had a quick mind. He absorbed information easily and retained it. His mother said he had been born knowing what was going on around him, and he now blessed that ability to learn easily. Although he wasn’t going to be part of the fighting forces, he had to be able to take care of himself so he didn’t put anyone else in danger. His job was going to be to report on the war, not make a nuisance of himself. Nevertheless, he couldn’t wait to start doing his job – that was as long as they accepted him, of course. He knew what all this testing was about.
They had to be sure they were choosing the right people for the job, but he wished they’d put him out of his misery and tell him if he had a chance of being given the job.
As if in answer to his thoughts, the officer who had
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