on, whatever else was happening in the world. Wearing her heavy coat for the first time, and taking her umbrella, she set off. A few spots of rain fell and the bus smelled of camphorated oil. Pearl smiled as the bus conductress took her fare. The ting of the machine now brought back happy memories of Margate.
When Pearl arrived at work, the talk was all of Russia. ‘Dad says the Russians would cut their throats rather than being taken by the Nazis,’ Moira Bush said the minute Pearl walked in. ‘I suppose you’ve heard? Or are you still on cloud nine?’
‘As a matter of fact I am,’ Pearl replied breezily, sliding into her seat and brushing the sleeves of her immaculate white blouse for minute specks of dust. It had taken her almost an hour last night to press her clothes properly. The old iron that had to be heated on the stove dated back to the Ark. Thank goodness Jim didn’t need his overalls and dungarees pressed. Taking her compact from her drawer, she raised it to hide the spectacle of Moira’s pinched face. Pearl tweaked into position the glossy wave that fell over her eye. She went to great lengths to maintain her Veronica Lake hairstyle. Should she have it cut? Bobs were popular. But Jim liked her hair long.
Pearl smiled at Em, the third clerk in the office. At thirty she was the oldest, yet still living at home with her dad. She wore unflattering utility clothes and lace-up shoes. Most of the girls wore heels and drew seams down the backs of their legs, as there was a shortage of stockings.
‘Are you both going to the dance next month?’ Pearl asked as she replaced the compact in her drawer.
‘I suppose so,’ said Moira dully.
‘I will if I can leave Dad,’ said Em quietly.
‘Doesn’t he like being by himself?’ Moira’s eyebrows shot up.
‘It’s not that, exactly.’
‘What is it then?’ Pearl and Moira asked together.
Em looked down at her desk. ‘It’s just that—’
Just then Mr Hedley walked in and Em went scarlet.
‘Good morning, ladies,’ said Mr Hedley, scrutinizing each desk.
They all replied, ‘Good morning, Mr Hedley,’ then began to type very quickly. As he walked slowly round examining their work, Pearl wondered what it was that Em had been going to say.
* * *
The Christmas dance was scheduled early in the hope that the Luftwaffe would be absent on the night of 22 November. Last year, celebrations had been called off because of the Blitz. But this year Pearl had every intention of showing off her husband to all her friends and colleagues, and dancing the night away. Everyone anticipated a big event. All the departments had contributed towards the expenditure and the grand total had provided for the hire of the popular Ray James and His Band, and a wide selection of raffle prizes, together with a comprehensive buffet and plenty of drinks. Despite the shortages, the night promised to be an exciting one.
At the beginning of November Jim came home with a present of black market clothes coupons. He knew how much her appearance meant to Pearl. And she’d hinted for some while about a black dress with sequins sewn on the bodice. He’d even sported out on a new shirt for himself, although the utility cut was, in Pearl’s opinion, a little staid.
As for shoes, she’d found a reasonable pair, with high heels and black straps with little black bows. Then something horrible happened. It was a damp Thursday evening and her thoughts were again on the dance as she walked home from work. She needed a new coat to go over the dress. But she didn’t have any coupons left and anyway, a coat would be far too expensive. With her attention taken, she didn’t hear the newspaper vendor’s cry. Then coming to an abrupt halt, she stood still as she stared at the board.
‘ Ark Royal sunk! Read all about it. Torpedoed by Italian U-boat.’
Pearl bought a paper. ‘Is this true?’ she asked the old man as he cuffed the drip from his nose.
‘It ain’t no false
When Pearl arrived at work, the talk was all of Russia. ‘Dad says the Russians would cut their throats rather than being taken by the Nazis,’ Moira Bush said the minute Pearl walked in. ‘I suppose you’ve heard? Or are you still on cloud nine?’
‘As a matter of fact I am,’ Pearl replied breezily, sliding into her seat and brushing the sleeves of her immaculate white blouse for minute specks of dust. It had taken her almost an hour last night to press her clothes properly. The old iron that had to be heated on the stove dated back to the Ark. Thank goodness Jim didn’t need his overalls and dungarees pressed. Taking her compact from her drawer, she raised it to hide the spectacle of Moira’s pinched face. Pearl tweaked into position the glossy wave that fell over her eye. She went to great lengths to maintain her Veronica Lake hairstyle. Should she have it cut? Bobs were popular. But Jim liked her hair long.
Pearl smiled at Em, the third clerk in the office. At thirty she was the oldest, yet still living at home with her dad. She wore unflattering utility clothes and lace-up shoes. Most of the girls wore heels and drew seams down the backs of their legs, as there was a shortage of stockings.
‘Are you both going to the dance next month?’ Pearl asked as she replaced the compact in her drawer.
‘I suppose so,’ said Moira dully.
‘I will if I can leave Dad,’ said Em quietly.
‘Doesn’t he like being by himself?’ Moira’s eyebrows shot up.
‘It’s not that, exactly.’
‘What is it then?’ Pearl and Moira asked together.
Em looked down at her desk. ‘It’s just that—’
Just then Mr Hedley walked in and Em went scarlet.
‘Good morning, ladies,’ said Mr Hedley, scrutinizing each desk.
They all replied, ‘Good morning, Mr Hedley,’ then began to type very quickly. As he walked slowly round examining their work, Pearl wondered what it was that Em had been going to say.
* * *
The Christmas dance was scheduled early in the hope that the Luftwaffe would be absent on the night of 22 November. Last year, celebrations had been called off because of the Blitz. But this year Pearl had every intention of showing off her husband to all her friends and colleagues, and dancing the night away. Everyone anticipated a big event. All the departments had contributed towards the expenditure and the grand total had provided for the hire of the popular Ray James and His Band, and a wide selection of raffle prizes, together with a comprehensive buffet and plenty of drinks. Despite the shortages, the night promised to be an exciting one.
At the beginning of November Jim came home with a present of black market clothes coupons. He knew how much her appearance meant to Pearl. And she’d hinted for some while about a black dress with sequins sewn on the bodice. He’d even sported out on a new shirt for himself, although the utility cut was, in Pearl’s opinion, a little staid.
As for shoes, she’d found a reasonable pair, with high heels and black straps with little black bows. Then something horrible happened. It was a damp Thursday evening and her thoughts were again on the dance as she walked home from work. She needed a new coat to go over the dress. But she didn’t have any coupons left and anyway, a coat would be far too expensive. With her attention taken, she didn’t hear the newspaper vendor’s cry. Then coming to an abrupt halt, she stood still as she stared at the board.
‘ Ark Royal sunk! Read all about it. Torpedoed by Italian U-boat.’
Pearl bought a paper. ‘Is this true?’ she asked the old man as he cuffed the drip from his nose.
‘It ain’t no false
Similar Books
